Part 16
Wes walked into the Lima Bean and looked around for some blue hair. He soon saw Jordan and Jasper sit by a table and walked towards them. On the way various people greeted him, people that "knew" him from his time as a Dalton student. The Dalton boys hung out at the Bean really often and if you lived in Westerville you knew who the boys were, especially the Warblers. He got some good luck wishes for Nationals and the cashier smiled at him and waved him over.
"On the house for my favorite coffee boy", she said when he got there and handed her his favorite drink, hot chocolate without whipped cream but with just a bit of cinnamon and vanilla in it. Wes chuckled.
"Thanks Ma Trixie", he said with a smile. It was an inside joke because Wes had been going to the Lima Been with other Dalton boys since he got to Dalton at the age of twelve. Trixie, the woman that own the coffee shop, had loved the small adorable boy from the start and made him various variants of hot chocolate whenever he came until she found his favorite. She fussed over him and the other boys at Dalton so much that they called her Ma Trixie whenever she was working. She patted his hand and then turned to her other customers. Wes made his way towards Jeremiah's brothers.
"Ah there you are Wes", Jordan said smiling. "Wow looking sharp today."
"Thanks", Wes said with a snort and sat down.
"Why are your uniform black", Jasper asked politely. "I thought all the students at Dalton have navy blue blazers an' grey slacks."
"Well I'm not a student am I", Wes said and shrugged. "So let's have a little chat shall we. Your father has enrolled Jeremiah to Dalton, he started his classes today and joined the Warblers just a about an hour ago."
"What?" Jasper asked shocked. "Why on-"
"To get rid of someone that can cause a scandal", Wes answered calmly sipping on his drink. "Just like he did with me."
"But… how is Jerry taking this", Jasper asked worriedly.
"Oh not so good… at first", Wes said and handed Jordan the camera. "As you can see if you watch this tape."
Jordan cocked an eyebrow and Jasper scooted closer to him so that they could both watch. Wes listened as the music started, enjoying his drink, and when he heard Trent and Nick sing he couldn't keep the proud smile off of his face. Jasper was grinning and looked amused but Jordan looked murderous.
"What's the matter Jordan", Wes asked smirking over the brim of the cup. "Can't stand the fact your little brother-"
"How dare he kiss my brother without permission from me?" Jordan yelled and everyone in the coffee shop stared at them. Jasper waved at them with an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Jordan fucking calm down", he then hissed to his cursing brother. Wes only looked at Jordan and ignored everything around them.
"So that's what it's all about", he asked with his famous smirk, putting the now empty cup to the side.
"Excuse me", Jordan asked darkly and handed Wes back the camera.
"You aren't mad at him for being gay", Wes said smirking. "You are mad at Roger for touching your brother because you are an overprotective son of a bitch."
"Hey leave mum out of this", Jasper said warningly.
"I was talking about your dad", Wes said impassively.
"Oh… well uh carry on then."
"Jasper", Jordan snapped.
"What the bitch first send Wes away because having him around would be a 'scandal'" he did air quotes. "And now he does the same to Jerry!"
"I like you more and more", Wes remarked dryly and the blue haired man smirked.
"Why thank you Wes", he said. "Now, ya got Roger to start Dalton as well?"
"Of course", Wes said nodding. "Can't have my little brother run around all sad and depressed when I know his boyfriend is as loaded as he is now can I?"
"Absolutely not", Jasper agreed. "So take us to see the runt."
"And don't stop me from making sure that punk doesn't lay a harming finger on Jeremiah", Jordan growled and got up.
"Yes sir", Wes said with a chuckle. But then his phone rang. "Oh pardon me. Hello."
"Is this Wesley Montgomery, coach for Dalton Academy Warblers?" a woman's voice asked.
"Yes this is he", Wes answered.
"Ah good, Mr. Montgomery I am Brenda Anderson" Wes nearly snorted at the name "and I am in the jury for this year's show choir nationals, yet again held in New York."
"Good day Mrs. Anderson how can I be of service to you?"
"First of it's Ms. Anderson."
"Pardon me Ms."
"It's quite alright. Now I understand that your choir is an a cappella choir right?"
"Yes Ms. they are."
"Well the thing is Mr. Montgomery, that there is a new rule for the competition."
"I see…" Wes got up slowly as his half-brothers were already standing and walking towards the door.
"Yes the rule is that at least one song of the three-" Brenda explained.
"Wait three", Wes asked shocked.
"Yes three songs Mr. Montgomery I was coming to that. This year every choir is to perform three songs and at least one must have accompanied music to it."
"But… we… Nationals are next week!"
"I know that and I am sorry you didn't get told earlier."
"I…" a light bulb went off in his head. "Do you have an orchestra?"
"No… how so?"
"Right… is it okay if we use a recording of the background music, because I doubt you will let us have a symphonic orchestra."
"Yes having the music recorded is within regulations Mr. Montgomery, as long as it is only the music and no singing."
"Trust me it is only music and no voices… Thank you Ms.… but now I have some work to do." He hung up and rushed out of the Lima Bean after his half-brothers.
"You can't be serious", Nick yelled at Wes as he and the rest of the council were gathered in Wes' room.
"I am", Wes said crossing his arms. "One of the judges called me and informed me about this."
"But… but that's not fair!" Nick exclaimed. "The Warblers are an a cappella choir!"
"I know Nick", Wes said calmly.
"Wes this has got to be a joke right", David asked. "They were just kidding ya?"
"No David."
"But… what are we gonna do then", Thad asked. "Our set list is complete and all the songs are perfectly rehearsed!"
Wes looked at the council, shook his head and smiled fondly. David looked shocked, Nick looked angry and Thad looked as if he was going to panic.
"Oh ye of little faith", Wes said and smirked. "I have it covered." He handed them papers with sheet music. "I've always wanted to try this one."
David read on the paper and his eyes became huge.
"You gotta be kidding me", he said. "Wes you aren't serious are you?"
"Of course I am", Wes said and crossed his arms. "We even have clothes down in the storage that will work… with some modifications."
"What kind of clothes", David asked curiously. As an answer Wes walked into his bathroom, after grabbing something from his wardrobe. The boys looked at each other in confusion but started to look over the set-list Wes had handed them. They discussed the songs and arrangements he'd made.
"Wes is a genius when it comes to these kinds of things", Nick said looking over one of the songs. "I think the first song will suit Trent and Jeff's voices."
"Don't forget about yourself and Thad", David said smiling softly. "Your voices will suit as well."
"But we're on the council now…" Thad mumbled.
"So", Wes' voice said from the bathroom door and they looked up at him. "Don't turn into me."
They gaped at how Wes was dressed. He had a black turtle neck, black trenchcoat with red ripping, black trousers and black knee-high boots. The trenchcoat had the Dalton logo on the chest pocket. Wes walked towards them and sat down on his desk.
"Guys it doesn't matter if you are on the council, if you are good and want to audition… audition", he said. "Let the rest of the Warblers be judges or whatever… just don't turn into me."
"What do you mean", David asked confused. "You never audition because it was against your morals, even though we could see it on you that you wanted to audition."
"Well… I lied."
They stared at him and Wes sighed and looked at his feet.
"It was only 50/50 true… one part of me was against my audition because of my morals… the other was just too chicken to."
"What?" the other three shouted in shock.
"You can't be serious!" David yelled.
"You gotta be kidding me", Thad said.
"That can't be true Wes, you're the most confident guy I know", Nick shouted. Wes looked at them and whatever they were all about to say next… died away from their lips.
"I don't lie", Wes said with a sigh. "I was too chicken to sing in front of all of you… I've always felt that I'm not good enough for the Warblers…" His friends all gaped at him in pure shock and Wes snorted.
"Close your mouths", he said. "You look like birdhouses… it wouldn't surprise me if actual Warblers will try to move in."
The plops were heard as they closed their mouths and Wes smiled again.
"Now before you all start at yell at me for being an idiot", he said. "You must know I've worked on it and have no problem singing solo anymore."
"But… but you're voice is amazing Wes", Nick said. "You've proofen that by singing to us before. How could you ever-"
"In comparison to you all I have never had someone telling me my voice is great", Wes cut him off.
"We-" David began but Thad cut him off.
"We're sorry we never said anything Wes… after all you've done for us and helped us with our voices it was the least we could do."
Wes walked up to him and ruffled Thad's hair.
"It's okay", Wes said. "I'm over it. But I still want you all to audition if you really want to do it."
The boys mumbled something and Wes shook his head with a laugh… then his door slammed open and Roger ran in. He jumped at Wes and landed in his arms, bridal style.
"I love you", he said. "You must marry me!"
"Uh… what about Miah?" Wes asked amused.
"He will be my much beloved mistress", Roger explained. "But you must marry me because I love you so much right now!"
"Don't say that so Miah hear", Wes said with a chuckle and put down the much taller boy on the ground.
"Why are you in love with Wes", Nick asked curiously.
"I'm not in love with him", Roger explained. "I just love him and intend to marry him."
"Why", David asked and cocked an eyebrow.
"Because this guy is God on Earth!" He hugged Wes close.
"Do not insult me", Wes said grimacing. "And… why this sudden love declaration?"
"One: you got me and Jer together forever, two: you talked some sense into his idiotic brothers and three: you are all kinds of awesome."
"Well… I can agree to one and two but I don't know about all kinds of awesome."
"Shut up", the other boys in the room said and Wes did just that and the room was quiet… it lasted for a full five minutes until Roger realized how Wes was dressed.
"That's not Dalton uniform is it", he asked and Wes smirked.
"Yes it is", Wes said and flicked open his phone and texted all Warblers, telling them to meet him in the choir room. He then turned to the group staring at me. "Come with me."
Trent and the rest of the Warblers gaped at Wes has he entered and the council took their seats. Nick called the meeting to order and then let Wes have the floor. Wes noticed Jasper and Jordan sit on either side of Jeremiah, their arms around his shoulders and he had to smile at them. Then he told the Warblers of the phone call he'd gotten and when everyone started to panic he told them his idea… and got stared at.
"We can pull this off", Wes reassured. "I know we can. We will go big this time… rock them like never before and dressed up for the occasion."
"In what", Trent questioned and Wes held out his arms and made a little spin.
"In this", Wes told them. "We will do some slight modifications of course."
"Where did you get that", Rasmus asked. "That's not Dalton uniform."
"Oh", Wes said smirking. "But it is."
"What?" every Dalton student yelled at him.
"This is how the seniors were dressed when I got to this school when I was twelve", Wes explained. "Principal Carmichael decided to skip this uniform the year our seniors started their freshman year."
"So that's what you meant with taking seven steps back", Rock said. "You wanted us to go seven years back and check the uniforms of Dalton!"
"Yes", Wes explained. "The trenchcoats were not used inside but the black blazers with red ripping were."
Trent, being a bit of a fashionista, walked up to Wes and felt on the trenchcoat.
"This will be awesome", he said. "We can add hoods… remove the ugly ripping and just make sure everything is the same shade of black."
"Good", Wes said. "There are enough uniforms in the storage for us…" He looked at his Warblers. "So do you think we can handle this?"
The boys looked at each other.
"Hell yeah!" they all chorused.
"Good", Wes clapped his hands together. "Let's get cracking shall we?"
TBC