Part 20
The Warblers were all sniggering whenever Wes was drinking something. He never drank from the same bottle or glass twice. But they stopped after a while when they realized Wes were stealing their glasses or bottles. It was all Jeff's fault! He'd told Wes about the sleeping pill and the coach had only nodded and started the rehearsals for next performance. They nailed it rather quickly and it was soon their turn again. Vocal Adrenaline hadn't managed to force any choir into forfeiting and Wes was grinning smugly when he met a furious Jesse backstage. Jesse had launched at him but the security guards had caught him and kicked him out.
"Okay boys", Wes said and they all gathered in a ring. "Today it's our last day together so make me proud okay?"
Wes was not returning to Dalton after today, he promised to show up for graduation though, but he had to stay in New York finishing his courses and in a few months he would start rehearsals for Godspell. Wes smiled at each boy in the group.
"You have all grown tremendously, Roger and Jeremiah as well", Wes said. "I know we will be top three. However don't feel too bummed should we not place first. Then you have a goal for next year."
"We couldn't have done it without you", David said smiling. "You sick, sick workaholic."
"Yeah yeah, rest I can do when I'm dead", Wes teased. "Now put your hands in there." Everyone did.
"And remember", Wes said. "Once a Warbler…"
"Always a Warbler!" his boys cheered and they raised their hands to the roof. It was time to take the stage.
Wes stood to the side watching the boys walk out on the black stage. Today they also had to have a song with background music, but Wes had pulled that off. Their costumes were a bit modified today. The boys that sang backup were all wearing the black blazers with red ripping, black trousers, black shoes and black turtle necks. The soloist had a bit more props to them. The audience waited in excitement and Wes noticed the New Directions smile widely at their friends. Wes felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to his side, there stood Will Schuester. They grinned at each other and then looked at the stage when the Warblers started to: (Warblers, Jeremiah, Roger, both)
Ba bap bap bap ba
Bap bap bap ba
Bap bap bap ba
Da da
Ba bap bap bap ba
Bap bap bap ba
Da da
Ba bap bap ba ba bappa
The audience cheered as the Warblers vocalized the intro to the Phantom of the Opera. Jeremiah Montgomery stepped out from the cluster of boys. He was dressed in the same uniform as the rest of the Warblers but had a white blazer instead, the truth? It was the normal blazer turned inside out. Jeremiah smiled and started his solo:
In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again for now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind
The "Phantom" walked out from the cluster of boys. It was Roger. He was wearing the trenchcoat over the same kind of uniform as the others and he had his hood up.
Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind
In all your fantasies, you always knew
that man and mystery…
were both in you…
And in this labyrinth,
where night is blind,
the Phantom of the Opera
is there/here inside your/my mind …
The boys suddenly spread out and when he was hidden from view again Jeremiah turned his blazer inside out uh… outside in(?) again. Roger threw his trenchcoat to the side. Rock had also been hidden by the others and was now in his outfit. It looked like a monk-coat with a hood and wide sleeves. It was black and red. This they did in a couple of seconds. The Warblers where "shanting": (Warblers, All, Rock)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
The lights were dim and then Rock jumped over two shorter boys and when his feet touched the ground the lights came off and Rock started to sing:
Night
And the spirit of life
Calling
Oh, oh, iyo
Mamela
Oh, oh, iyo
And a voice
With the fear of a child
Answers
Oh, oh, iyo
Mamela
Oh, oh, iyo
Ubukhosi bo khokho
We ndodana ye sizwe sonke
Wait
There's no mountain too great
Oh, oh, iyo
Hear these words and have faith
Oh, oh, iyo
Have faith
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
He lives in you
He lives in me
He watches over
Everything we see
Into the water
Into the truth
In your reflection
He lives in you
The stage darkened again and the Warblers hurriedly took their positions. Rock threw his monk coat to Wes and Wes threw David a top-hat, a cane and tuxedo jacket. Wes nodded for the band to start playing and a single spotlight found David. He was dressed in all black, with a top-hat and a cane. He did a little dance and then turned to the Warblers that were sniggering. (Warblers, David, Seniors/juniors sophomore/freshmen)
Don't you disrespect me little men!
Don't you derogate or deride!
You're in my world now
Not your world
And I got friends on the other side!
He's got friends on the other side...
That's an echo, gentlemen.- David turned to the audience putting on the white gloves he'd found in the tuxedo's pocket.
Just a little something we have here in Louisiana, a little parlor trick, don't worry... – David made a spin and pointed at the Warblers with his cane before starting to dance. He was hilarious.
Sit down at my table
Put your minds at ease
If you relax it will enable me to do anything I please
I can read your future
I can change it 'round some, too
I'll look deep into your heart and soul
(you do have a soul, don't you, Roger?) – he put the head of the cane underneath Roger's chin and tilted his face up. Roger shrugged grinning and the Warblers all danced a little dance as David sang.
Make your wildest dreams come true!
I got voodoo– the freshmen and sophomores fell to the ground.
I got hoodoo – juniors fell.
I got things I ain't even tried! – seniors fell. David was left alone standing in the middle of a heap of boys. He looked around smirking.
And I got friends on the other side.
He's got friends on the other side!– came from the heap. David held his hands out to the "dead" Thad and Nick.
Shake my hand.– They looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Come on boys.
Won't you shake the poor sinner's hand? – They grabbed his hands and he pulled them up singing:
Yes...
Are you ready?
Are you ready?– The Warblers, jumped, rose or rolled up on their feet.
Are you ready?
Transformation central!
Transformation central!– They circled David.
Reformation central!– David raised both of his hands.
Reformation central! –The Warblers did the same.
Transmogrification central!
Can you feel it?
You're changin' – The Warblers started to spin.
You're changin'
You're changin', all right!
I hope you're satisfied – The Warblers started to sway as if being dizzy while singing ooooh.
But if you ain't
Don't blame me
You can blame my friends on the other side!
As David hell the note he looked at the roof and the Warblers turned to the audience.
You got what you wanted!
David laughed evilly.
But you lost what you had!
Hush...
When David said hush the Warblers fell to the floor again and the lights went out. The crowd started to cheer and Wes noticed Rachel jump up and down while she cheered. Wes laughed happily and Schue did the same and then Wes got rammed by his younger brother and the other Warblers followed suit. Wes was grinning so wide he thought his face could split in two.
The Warblers stood yet again on stage, between New Directions and another choir. Kurt and Blaine had reached between the gap between them and they had taken Nick and Jeff's hands. The girls of ND had followed suit and the boys from the both choirs put their arms around each other's shoulders. It now looked more like they were one big choir instead of two separate. Schue and Wes stood at the front with their arms around each other's shoulders. The woman that was announcing the winner walked on stage.
"We'll start with second runner-up", she said smiling. The room was quiet. "Aural Intensity!"
Wes closed his eyes and listened to the cheer. He felt someone grab his hand but didn't know who it was and he didn't really care.
"Congratulations", the announcer said. "And now… first runner-up."
Silence, Wes could hear the blood beat in his ears.
"Congratulations… wow… congratulations nobody."
Everyone looked confused and Wes opened his eyes and stared at the announcer. He also noticed that it was the freshman Lewis that was holding onto his hand for dear life. The announcer looked in her papers and smiled.
"We have a two winners", she said and Wes gaped. "Congratulations… The New Directions and Dalton Academy Warblers!"
The screams were deafening, happy screams… overjoyed screams. Wes felt his left hand being pulled up high in the air by Lewis. Wes let go, still in shock. He'd done it. He had finally done it. He'd beaten Jesse… he had taken his boys to victory. He'd fulfilled his promise to the chairman before him… a promise to bring the boys all the way.
He'd done it. That was all he had time to think off before being jumped by Thad, Nick and David. The trio hugged him to them so hard he could barely breathe. The rest of the boys joined in. Wes felt himself being hoisted off of the ground and onto someone's shoulders. He looked down and realized it was Rock and Fred. They were grinning so wide it looked as if their cheeks were aching. Then it broke for Wes as well. He grinned and cheered loudly. Suddenly Thad, David and Nick were beside him again. They were on the shoulders of some other Warblers.
Wes turned to the side and grinned at Kurt and Blaine and Schue. When Wes feet touched the ground again his younger brother, by blood, tackled him in a huge hug that Roger joined in to. But then Wes felt something else… a girl was hugging him. He turned his head and realized it was Santana. He grinned and turned around and hugged her back. She smirked.
"You still smell amazing", she said with a little wink before walking off. Wes shook his head laughing. That was what she'd told him at the Lonely Hearts Dinner last year when he hugged her.
Wes and Schue got to get the trophies, yes there were two. The board was prepared should this ever happen or the trophy broke they had a reserve. Wes shook hands with all the judges grinning.
"You did a remarkable job in such a short time", a woman said and winked.
"Ms. Anderson", Wes greeted before hurrying over to his boys handing them the trophy. Wes got surprised again… he was grabbed by Roger and Joseph and suddenly found himself surrounded by the strongest Warblers on the team. He knew what was coming.
"Here we go again", Wes remarked before the Warblers started to throw him up and down, like back at regionals. Wes laughed at the hilarity of it all. But then over the noise the head judge talked into the mike.
"And now", he said. "It's time to give out the special prizes. First, the best singeres."
"Singeres is not a word", Wes heard someone mutter.
The Warblers all looked at the girls of New Direction rooting for either one of them.
"Miss Rachel Berry", the announcer said.
"WHOO!" the Warblers and New Directions cheered as Rachel got her trophy. She bowed to the audience and hurried back in place. Wes heard her tell Finn he'd win for best male singer.
"And now best singer", the announcer said. "Mr. David Mitchell."
"What?" David was in shock and the Warblers cheered loudly. Wes had to push him, with Thad's help, to the judges and then help him thank them and get him back. The judges and audience chuckled merrily. Mike Chang got prize for best individual dancer, a group from another choir got for best group-sync, a boy got for best rapper, a choir with girls got the best dressed prize (the Warblers were first runner up) and then… prize for coach of the year was to be handed out. The Warblers closest to him shook Wes' by the shoulders. The boys of ND did the same to Mr. Schue of course.
"You think you'll win", Thad whispered to Wes.
"No", Wes said. "Schue is far more ex-"
"Wes Montgomery", the announcer said and Wes' voice died. The Warblers cheered loudly. Mr. Schue smiled and applauded his friend. Wes walked up to the judges and the head judge whispered:
"For a lot of work in a short time, for someone so young."
Wes blushed but then grinned and took his trophy and shook the man's hand. He then hurried back to the Warblers. Fred and Rock hoisted him onto their shoulders again and Wes handed Jeremiah his trophy. Because Wes felt the need to hold on to the boys holding him… or else he'd fall down. Wes was grinning at the applauding sea of people. The sound was deafening but then a loud BANG echoed in the room. A woman screamed. Wes' body jerked. His eyes went wide. He looked down on his chest. On the left side was a puddle forming. He watched it grow, fast, in confusion. Thin lines started to go down his chest and landed on Rock and Fred. Both boys looked up in confusion. Then Wes' hands and arms slacked and he fell backwards off of the boys holding him. The last thought he had before he hit the ground was:
"Why didn't it hurt?"
TBC