Part 5

While they sat there drinking their coffee/chocolate Jerry decided that he'd ask Wesley now before anything else showed up.

"Hey Wes", he said and the kid looked up at him.

"What", he asked quietly. At least he wasn't mumbling so much right now.

"I talked about the others about you joining the Warblers."

"Really?" Wesley sounded eager and all the Warblers noted such eagerness in his eyes it made them all smile. All the Warblers had heard Jerry talk so now they turned to look at him and the small boy. Wesley didn't even notice, his eager gaze was nearly glued on Jerry, one could say he only had eyes for the older boy. Jerry couldn't help but smile at the eagerness in the small boy. He looked as if he was fidgeting in eagerness.

"What did they say", Wesley asked eagerly. "Did they say yes? Please tell me they didn't say no. Did they say no? They did didn't they? They don't want to hang out with a small kid around… I'd understand that and what good could I do? I wouldn't even be seen among all you tree people and that would mean I'd have to stand in the front the whole time and I don't really like the spotlight. It scares me. But what did they say? Can I at least listen when you practice? I can help with writing sheet music. I'm good at that. Did they say I could help? They don't want me anywhere nearby don't they?" He looked sad. "I guess I'll better go." He hung with his head and got up. All the other boys laughed and his head shot up and he looked at Jerry that was laughing harder than anyone else. Wesley blushed and pouted slightly and started to walk around the table.

"I knew it", he mumbled brokenly. "No one wants me."

"No!" Jerry exclaimed still laughing just a bit and he grabbed the small boy that had to walk by him to get to the door. Jerry stood up and pulled Wesley into a hug and rested a hand on his soft hair.

"No, no, no", Jerry said caressing the boy's head softly. "That's not it at all."

"Why did you laugh then?" Wesley looked up at him with big sad eyes.

"Because you are so darn adorable!" Philip called from his table and Wesley blushed as the others laughed.

"That rant really was cute", Justin said smiling fondly.

"I'm not cute", Wesley grumbled and Jerry hugged him closer.

"Of course you are", he said. "Kids are always cute, that's why they get away with everything."

"That's why you will be so useable for us", Nathan said happily. "Ow!"

Mark had hit him up the head and Wesley sniggered at Nathan's offended look. Jerry smiled and held the boy a little tighter.

"The boys agreed to let you join", Jerry said and Wesley looked up at him happily. "If you try out for us with the perfect song."

Wesley looked horrified.

"P-p-perfect", he asked with a quivering voice and Jerry looked confused. "N-n-no."

"What", Jerry looked shocked and Wesley started to shake his head with nothing but terror on his face.

"No!" Wesley exclaimed, white in the face. "No! I can't! I never can! I can't!"

"What are you talking about Wes", Jerry asked alarmed and the boy started to fight the grip on him.

"Don't force me!"

Mark was on his feet at once.

"Jerry let him go", he ordered and Jerry did… but when he did Wesley bolted and was out the door at once.

"Wes!" quite a few voices called worriedly.

"What the hell Mark", Otto asked. "Why did you tell Jer to let him go? Now we'll never find the kid?"

"We aren't going to", Lucas suddenly said and got up. "I am."

"What", the others, save Mark asked shocked.

"I know what's going on", Lucas said and walked out of the Bean and followed Wesley, slowly.

Lucas Bedford is known as the name-geek but also as the Warbler-nerd. He's a straight A student and in the debate team and the Academic Decathlon team… and the Mathmasters.

Lucas is an African-American who wears glasses and always has his uniform in perfect shape. His hair is always perfect. All his school work is always perfect. His attending and behavior is perfect. His voice is perfect for the job he does. His cool head is perfect. And Lucas hates nearly everything of it.

From an early age he was molded into being the perfect son, the perfect heir, the perfect child… and he hated it. He had tried to "revolt" a few times but it was hard with his parents being who they were. Lucas understood what made Wesley so upset. For some reason Wesley knew he wasn't perfect and Lucas just knew that someone had told this child that he would never be perfect, so no matter how hard he tried Wesley now believed he'd never be allowed into the Warblers and their perfect little world.

Lucas didn't like to meddle in other people's lives or problems. He didn't like to interact with people because most of them told him just how perfect he was. Parents told him they wanted their children to be like him and kids told him they wanted the perfect grades he got… they wanted his perfect life. Lucas was filthy rich, Nathan used to say he'd turn green if he got any more money. Everything in Lucas' life was perfect. He lived in a perfect house where everything was perfectly decorated, looked perfected, smelt perfect and felt perfect for outsiders. But not for Lucas and his siblings. They hated the place and rather spent Christmas at the oldest girl's place because she was messy and that's how they loved it. Lucas didn't have to walk far.

He saw the little Dalton boy pace back and forth in front of a bus stop, muttering stuff. Lucas smiled and walked up and sat down on the bench. Wesley hadn't noticed him. The boy looked angry. But at what Lucas could only guess.

"That angry look doesn't suit your pretty face", Lucas said in that calm voice of his and the small boy jumped and then stared at him.

"What are you doing here", he mumbled.

"I just came to talk to you."

"To tell me I'm being silly?" Wesley looked at him suspiciously.

"No", Lucas said calmly and shook his head. Wesley just looked at his feet before he started pacing and muttering stuff again. Lucas thought he heard Vaduz.

"Why are you talking about the capital of Lichtenstein", he asked curiously.

"I must learn all European capitals until tomorrow", Wesley mumbled sadly. "I don't remember all of them…"

"Where is the problem?"

"The Balkans."

Lucas smiled.

"I'll help you", he said and Wesley looked hopeful. "If you tell me why you got spooked by thinking of perfection."

Wesley's smile faded and he rubbed his arm.

"It's stupid", he mumbled. "You'll laugh."

"I swear I won't."

"Last time someone here told me something like that they didn't keep their word."

"Oh?"

"Nathan and Otto said no one would be mean at me when we ate lunch… Alvaro and his friends were and everyone kept staring at me… it creeps me out."

"I can understand that. You are a bit on the shorter side so of course they'll stare."

Wesley glared at him but Lucas only smiled.

"But a lot of boys are short so they'll soon get used to that", he said and smirked. Wesley cocked his head to the side and looked confused. Lucas smiled again.

"So", he asked. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong… Shorty?"

Wesley glared at him but then huffed and sat down beside him on the bench and Lucas smirked a half-smirk. Wesley looked at him.

"Only if you tell me what's the capital of Albania", he said and Lucas cocked an eyebrow.

"Why", he asked.

"So I can know you'll stand by your world and not just listen and then take off", Wesley said and crossed his arms and Lucas looked shocked.

"I won't Shorty", he promised. "I swear."

"Sorry but I have a slight trust-issue if you haven't noticed."

"Is that your biggest problem?" Lucas asked curiously.

"No that is practical grownups staring at me as if I was an animal at zoo and when I'm upset they just stare more."

"Well excuse the stupidity of it all but you are very fascinating. You light up the dullness around them."

"Thanks and what makes you less dull than them?"

Lucas blinked.

"Uh nothing", he said.

"So you are just like them?"

"Yes."

"So you agree that you are like the rest of the boys at Dalton?"

"Pretty much yes."

"So how can you help me with my homework if you're stupid?"

Lucas felt his eyebrows climb upwards and then he saw the small boy smirk at him… no half-smirk at him… well tried to anyway. Lucas saw the teasing glow in the boy's eyes and he couldn't keep back the laughter. He laughed happily and the kid grinned, feeling pleased with himself. Lucas patted his shoulder.

"Tirana", he then said and Wesley cocked his head to the side again.

"What", he asked.

"The capital of Albania is Tirana. So now keep your part of the deal mister. Why is perfection troubling you so much?"

Wesley looked hurt and then turned his gaze to his feet. Lucas followed his gaze and the small boy sighed.

"I'm not perfect so I will never be accepted into my family", he said and Lucas could find anger and sorrow behind each word. "I'm not… my mom isn't the woman my dad is married to. He cheated on her with my mom and I was born. Mom left me with dad and ran off because I wasn't perfect for her… dad left me with my grandparents, his parents, because I didn't fit into his perfect family."

Lucas felt his brow furrow in anger, Wesley's parents abandoned him because he wasn't perfect in their eyes?

"I was told to tell everyone dad and I were cousins", Wesley continued. "They said it was the perfect cover for me and I could stay close to dad and his perfect family. When I got bigger I looked more and more like him and that was a danger, my alibi wasn't perfect anymore and dad's perfect sons pointed that out. So dad figured out the perfect solution… sending me as far away as possible and with no contact so that I would be forgotten. But… but perfect people can't be forgotten so I've been trying to be perfect. I've aced all subjects so far… except geography and math. I'm advancing in fencing and martial arts. But still… I'm not perfect enough." He sniffled. "Because if I was my family would want me. Why can't I be perfect? Why does the perfect me have to be someone that has no one? No family… no one." He started to sob quietly. Lucas was reminded of the song they had heard Wesley play and sing in the Warbler hall.

How I prayed
That a time will come
Where I can free myself
From their expectations
On that day
I'll discover someway to be myself
And to make my fam'ly proud

Lucas looked at the crying child. Lucas understood that this boy was still trying to get love from a father and a family that clearly didn't deserve it. Lucas watched the child again and felt out of place. Something he'd never learnt was to handle crying kids so he looked around feeling awkward but then he saw Mark watch them and he gave him begging eyes. Mark smiled slightly and walked over and sat on Wesley's other side. As soon as Wesley noticed him he leaned into him and Mark held him as he cried.

Lucas bit his lip, he searched for something to say. He thought of what Wesley had said again. His dad didn't love him in the slightest but the boy didn't seem to understand that. Lucas knew he should tell him but… what would happen to the boy then? Would he even believe him? Maybe he should focus on getting Wesley to realize that he was perfect like he was.

Lucas had taken it upon himself to check the boy's grades from earlier and the boy was good. He was a great student with A:s all over… except for math and geography. But Lucas could help him with that if he wanted to. The boy showed promise in the academic world but also in martial arts and fencing. And if he got to keep that angelic voice of his Lucas knew he'd go far on that as well. So he had to make the boy understand that he was perfect the way he was.

"Wesley being perfect isn't as nice at it seems", he said and Wesley looked at him sadly.

"It isn't?" he hiccupped.

"No", Lucas said. "In my family's eyes I am perfect but I feel… wrong anyway because it's not really me. You are perfect the way you are, that's what it is about not being what anyone else wants you to be. You say you're good in school and at some sports? Great! That makes you the perfect Wesley Montgomery." He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You are still a kid and have plenty of time to get perfect."

"But dad-"

"It is his loss Wes", Lucas said sharply. "Don't care about those who don't care about you. Like Alvaro for example. Ignore him and he will have nothing on you. You got some wits and a quick tongue… a dangerous one I might add. You captured me perfectly."

"I… I did", Wesley asked confused.

"Yes you did it perfectly", Lucas said. "You and your silver tongue lured me into a trap. I swallowed the bait with hook and all."

"But… but I'm not perfect… in any way."

"That is not true", Lucas said and looked at Wesley. "No one is perfect and I mean no one. Your dad least of anyone. How can his family be perfect if he thought need to find another woman to engage in sexual activities with? Then it can't be that perfect. Just think about it. Your dad is clearly not satisfied with the woman he's married to. He thought it important to lie with other women and that will be the only thing you can ever thank him for. Because his imperfect morals is the reason you live."

"So I will never be perfect because I'm born out of imperfection", Wesley said sadly.

"No, no, no you misunderstood me Wes", Lucas hurriedly said. "I mean that your dad, they guy you think is perfect isn't perfect at all so why'd you want to be anything like him?"

Wesley sniffled a little and looked at Lucas with big eyes.

"So… dad isn't perfect?"

"No and he never will be. He's a bad dad to you, not a perfect father at all. And you are wrong on another part", he took Wesley's hand. "You are not alone. You have someone."

"I do?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Try out for the Warblers and I'll tell you."

Wesley looked at him.

"You promise", he asked glaring just slightly.

"I swear it."

"I'll show up if you tell me the capital of Bosnia."

"I think it's Sarajevo. So I can tell Jerry you'll show up tomorrow?"

Wesley nodded.

"I'll stop by at your place after dinner and help you with the rest of your homework okay", Lucas asked and Wesley nodded before being hoisted off of the bench by Mark. The tall boy slung the kid over his shoulder and walked off. Wesley looked confused but gave in after a bit and looked at Lucas who was still sitting on the bench. Maybe this guy actually meant to keep his word.

And Lucas did, when Wesley returned to his room the older boy was sitting on his bed with Wesley's geography and math books beside him. They spent a few hours getting through it all and Lucas smirked when he realized the small boy was sitting closer and closer to him. He also smiled when Wesley asked him if he could actually come to him if he needed help in the future. Lucas told him it wouldn't be a problem and just as they were done with all homework there was a knock on the door and Otto and Nathan came into the room, with them was a short dark-haired boy with green eyes. He only reached to Nathan's shoulder but the two of them were actually holding hands. Wesley smiled a bit and then looked at his lap.

"There you are buddy", Otto said grinning. "Ready to help us get even with Alvaro?"

"I guess so", Wesley mumbled.

"Don't worry Wes", Lucas said and put a hand on his shoulder. "If they get you in trouble I will make sure they regret it."

"You promise", Wesley asked and looked at him.

"I swear."

"What's the capital of Albania?"

"Tirana."

Wesley nodded and got up and walked up to the other three boys, they looked confused. Wesley turned to the dark-haired boy that was holding Nathan's hand. He held his own out.

"I'm Wesley", he said.

"Hiya", the dark-haired boy said and let go of Nathan's hand to shake Wesley's. "I'm Mitch. I'm in the Warblers and Nate's boyfriend."

"Like girlfriend but you're a boy", Wesley asked curiously.

He'd never met a homosexual but he'd heard about boys being together with boys and girls being together with girls. He'd only heard bad things about it, people saying it was against God's will. But Wesley stopped believing in God a long time ago so he didn't care. But he was still curious about it, he didn't even know what to call someone that loved someone of the same gender. He'd heard words like queer, fag, crow, pansy and homo. He didn't know if that was the right words to say. Nathan grinned and Mitch smiled fondly.

"Yes", he said smiling. "Just like that. Do you know what it means?"

"I've heard about homosexuality but never seen it", Wesley explained. "At my old school it was something bad because God says so… but I don't believe in God so why should I listen to what he says?"

Nathan pulled him into a tight hug.

"I love this boy!" he said. "If he was our age I'd totally introduce him to my female friends at Crawford."

Wesley looked confused and Lucas chuckled while Mitch and Otto only smiled.

"So", Otto said and Nathan looked at him, as did Wesley. "What is the plan Nathan?"

"Well", Nathan said letting go of Wesley. "Since Alvaro is so interested in you Wes I was thinking of using you as a bait to get him alone. He'll try to hurt you surely but that's not really the most important thing. Alvaro will come to you and that's what matters."

Wesley paled in terror and Lucas slammed his book shut.

"Nate", he snapped. "He's scared. Don't force him to do something that scares him or puts him in danger!"

"Easy there Nerd", Nathan said fondly and Lucas rolled his eyes. "I'm not putting him in danger. Mitch will be close by."

"Oh because I'm such a big guy that Alvaro will be scared of me", Mitch said crossing his arms.

"No but you're one of Carmichael's favorite students love of my life", Nathan said happily. "If you hear Wes sounding scared, screaming or just plain angry you walk around the corner and demand to know what Alvaro is doing."

Mitch cocked an eyebrow and Wesley moved closer to Lucas, hoping the older boy would save him from this. Which he would.

"No", Lucas said. "Nate it's too much of a risk. You can't just put Wes in danger like that. Alvaro is already making him a target and wants his head. If he knows Wes takes part of you getting him it will only get worse. I won't allow it."

Nathan groaned and turned to Wesley.

"Why do you have to stick by the Nerd and the Stick-in-the-mud", he asked.

"Because Jerry and Lucas are smart enough to see that a plan is idiotic before it gets put into motion", Wesley said and Mitch snorted a laugh while Otto and Nathan gaped in shock. Otto groaned and sank down on the empty bed in the room.

"Aw man he's already been corrupted by the Nerd!" he said.

"Thank you very much Nerd", Nathan said and sat down on the floor. "Now everything is ruined!"

"Oh come on it's not my fault", Lucas said.

"Of course it is Nerd! You and Stick-in-the-mud!"

"Stop calling us those things", Lucas said calmly.

"Why", Otto asked. "It's true. You're a nerd and Jerry's a stick in the mud! You never let us play pranks and get even at people!"

"It's wrong and-"

"Against your morals yeah yeah we know Nerd", Nathan said and waved with his hand.

"Stop being mean to Lucas!" Wesley said sharply. "Or I'll not tell you my revenge plan!"

Lucas grinned slightly, Mitch chuckled and Nathan and Otto gaped at the small fuming Asian boy in front of them. He looked really angry and held his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes ablaze and an angry air around him.

"Dude he looks so much like Jerry that it's scary", Nathan squeaked.

"Shut it", Wesley spat. "Apologize or never learn of my plan."

"What plan?" Otto asked.

"To get back at Alvaro, I told you!"

"Is it good?"

"Better than anything you two could come up with."

"Oh yeah", Nathan asked eagerly. "What is it?"

"Apologize."

"Sorry Lucas", the duo said too quickly.

"Mean it", Wesley said sternly.

"We're sorry we called you that dude", Otto said turning to the amused-looking Lucas. "We didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"We don't mean anything bad about it", Nathan said. "Honestly! I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted", Lucas said.

"What's your plan", the duo turned to Wesley eagerly and the boy smirked a half-smirk. Mitch laughed because he looked like an evil version of Jerry and Lucas combined. But he was wise enough not to voice that thought. Nathan… had none of that sense.

"Jesus he looks like an evil combination of Lucas and Jerry", he said and Mitch face-palmed, as did Lucas and Otto. Wesley just rolled his eyes, grabbed hold of Nathan's ear, pulled him up and whispered in his ear. A happy grinned appeared on Nathan's face… mixed with a painful grimace because of the grip on his ear.

The next day Alvaro was sitting alone by a table in the cafeteria and to say he was annoyed was an understatement. He had had a crap day so far. Everything kept going wrong.

His alarm-clock didn't ring, his pencils had all disappeared, his tie had gotten stuck in a door, his shoelaces had been tied together sometime during his study period in the library, his hair gel disappeared, his gym clothes had been exchanged for clothes for someone's twice his size, he'd slipped on stuff and he had ticked off Mark which resulted in a painful arm. It had not been on purpose when he ticked off Mark. The giant had just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Alvaro's clock had suddenly been turned back ten minutes so his buddy called and told him he was late for history. Alvaro ran all the way, pushing other students aside as he did and he pushed Mark so the giant spilled his coffee all over that little kid Montgomery. Mark punched Alvaro because the guy refused to apologize to the kid, he was late so sue him and the kid was annoying anyway. His friends avoided him because of his anger, they didn't want to make him explode.

Alvaro looked up when he saw that little Montgomery kid walk towards his table with his lunch tray. This table was the only one available and the kid looked nervous. Alvaro rolled his eyes and the boy sat down slowly. His lunch looked delicious, especially the smoothie that he had on the tray. He guessed the kitchen staff liked the boy better than anyone else. Alvaro also noticed the coffee stain on the white shirt underneath the little kid's blazer. The boy started to eat his lunch in silence and he didn't look up at Alvaro. The boy was scared of him and Alvaro knew it… and loved it. He smirked.

"Hey kid what ya got there?" he asked and the boy jolted as if being hit. Alvaro smirked. "I said what ya got there pipsqueak?"

"M-my lunch", the boy whispered.

"Oh? And who gave you the smoothie?"

"I… I bought it… there were lots of them. Did you miss them?"

Alvaro turned to the food ladies and saw all the smoothies. Damn he had missed it and judged by the line they would run out before he could get one. Great another way his day sucked. But wait… the kid had a smoothie and the boy was terrified of him so… why not just reach out and take it? Which was exactly what Alvaro did. He reached out and took Wesley's smoothie. The boy looked up at him with big eyes.

"That's mine", he squeaked.

"Oh really", Alvaro asked smirking.

"Yes."

"Do you want it back?"

"Yes", Wesley whispered.

"Well then… here!" Alvaro took the lid off and threw the smoothie at the boy's face… there was just one problem. Nothing left the cup. Wesley looked at him in confusion. Alvaro blinked a few times.

"What the hell", he asked and pulled the cup back and looked into it. There was a liquid in it. He tried to throw it again but nothing happened.

"What the fuck?" he held the thing up above his head, upside down. The liquid was there.

"Maybe if you poke it carefully", Wesley supplied. "You can see if there's something there blocking it."

"Shut it kid", Alvaro snapped but reached for the straw. Why on Earth did the kid tell him to do that? Was he stupid? As soon as Alvaro figured out the problem Wesley would get the thing thrown at him. Alvaro took the straw, not noticing the sharp point and poked at the cup… pointing a hole to the thin plastic that was protecting the smoothie. The plastic erupted and… Alvaro got covered in a pink smoothie. He screamed and everyone looked at him in confusion. They saw Alvaro Sanchez with a cup held above his head… and he was pink. The room erupted in laughter and Wesley Montgomery got up and took all the napkins he could find and started to wipe the older boy's face clean with care. But he leaned in and whispered:

"And for the record. Don't mess with me."

Alvaro stared at the small kid that was helping him clean off, looking compassionate as he did. But the boy was behind all this? His crappy day? No way! But that's when he saw it… the satisfied half-smirk. It was there for a second and then gone. The boy was behind this! And he was still helping him get cleaned off… why? A teacher walked over.

"What happened here Mr. Sanchez", he asked sternly.

"Uh…"

"Alvaro had a little accident sir", Wesley said and turned his big eyes to the teacher. "He's having a bad day sir and I'm helping him. I hope he's not in any trouble for this and for all those curses he let escape when the smoothie got over him."

"Well… uh", the teacher was looking into the boy's big innocent and angelic eyes. "No of course not… it was an accident?"

"Yes sir. There was something wrong with the plastic that protects the smoothie, it was mine and I couldn't poke a hole in it. Alvaro decided to help me sir so he took it and poked a hole in it and the whole thing just blew up in his face sir."

"Really?"

"Yes sir. Was… was it my fault? I'm sorry sir." The kid looked sad.

"Oh no! No no it is not your fault Wesley", the teacher said patting his shoulder. "It was clearly an accident. Sanchez I appreciate that you help our newest student but be more careful next time okay?"

"Yes sir", Alvaro said and the teacher walked away. Alvaro turned to the boy that was now smirking at him.

"Be more careful Alvaro", he said before turning, taking the sandwich from his tray and walked away eating happily. There was no doubt about it in Alvaro's mind… and in the minds of Nathan, Otto, Lucas and Mitch… Wesley Montgomery was evil. When he wanted to.

TBC

Warblers Wes' first year:
Seniors – Mark, Jerry (chairman), Scott, Bastian, Brad, Fredric & Richard
Juniors – Peter, Michael, Philip (lead singer), Charles, Lucas, Brad(councilman) & Ethan
Sophomores – Joseph, William, Roger, Matt, Austin (councilmember), Justin/Justine, Reed, Malcolm & Tom
Freshmen – Nathan, Otto, Julian, Mitch, Eric, Carl & John – 29

Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:

Gleek4ever - Thank you I'm happy you like it. But if you haven't read Big Brother Wes some stuff that might pop up later will make no sense to you.