Part 8
Mark Connors had to admit it… he really was the Papa Warbler, at least when it came to some of the younger Warblers being hurt... and especially Wesley. They were walking towards their dorm, Wesley on his back, but how did it come to this? Well...
Mark had been heading for the library to remind Lucas, Jerry and Wesley to not miss dinner in half an hour. But as he had been walking up the steps he had heard Lucas talk in a soothing voice and with a furrowed brow he had hurried on his steps. What he had met had him staring in shock. Nearly at the top Lucas had been cooing Wesley into walking down the stairs. The boy had had his eyes squeezed tight and he had held a tight grip on Lucas' hand, looking as if he was in pain. Mark hadn't been able avoid noticing that both of them had been green! Their heads, shoulders and chests had been green. Lucas had been wearing glasses so he had gotten some protection it looked like but not Wesley.
"Come on Shorty", Lucas had cooed. "Just a bit more and we'll be down the stairs."
"It hurts", Wesley had whimpered. "Lucas please help, it hurts."
When Mark had heard that he had taken the stairs three steps in a time and had soon been at their side.
"What the hell happened to you", he had yelled and Lucas looked up.
"Mark it's not-"
"Who did this to Wessie?"
"Don't call me that", Wesley had mumbled, trying to opening his eyes but he had squeezed them shut again with a hiss. Mark had put a hand on the boy's shoulder and had then glared at Lucas.
"What happened", he had growled.
"Don't look at me like that Papa Warbler", Lucas had said. "It wasn't my fault."
"Lucas", Mark had growled leaning down to the other boy. "What happened?"
Mark had then heard footsteps and looked up and his mouth had fallen open. Jerry Jonston had walked up to them carrying three school bags and he had also been covered in something green and sticky, just like the other two boys in front of Mark. Jerry had walked tall as if he wasn't covered in that stuff and Mark had gaped at him. Jerry had looked at him over the rim of his glasses.
"Nathan, Otto, Julian", he had explained and Mark had been forced bit back a growl. "We have to get back at them for this."
Mark had nodded before hoisting Wesley up to give him a piggyback-ride. The boy had squeaked in surprise at first but then held on.
"How", Lucas had asked.
"No idea", Jerry had said as he sighed and they had started to walk.
"I…" Wesley had said and they had turned to him. "I know how… but it will require some good acting from you guys."
"Anything for you Shorty", Lucas had said and had ruffled Wesley's hair fondly.
"Stop calling me that Midget", Wesley had grumbled and Lucas, Mark and Jerry had laughed. "Oh great."
"What is it", Jerry asked.
"The first time I know Lucas is standing up and I can't see him! That's not fair!"
The older boys laughed and they headed for the dorms to get cleaned up and prepare for their payback. Mark carried Wesley the entire way even though the boy objected that he could walk on his own if they only would lead him. But all three refused to let him do that. All boys they met stared at them and those who laughed soon ran off in terror because Papa and Mama Warbler sent them death glares. Lucas walked looking a bit embarrassed, Mark impassive and Jerry walked tall. He walked as if he wasn't green, as if there was nothign to stare at him for and as if his temper wasn't flared up like the angry fire it was. Mark was the only one to see it because he knew Jerry the best. You couldn't see it by just looking at him. You had to really look at him to notice the signs. The tightness around his mout was one, his death grip on the things he carried and the way he breathed rappidly, but quietly.
"Yo Jonston", a voice called and they saw Alvaro walking towards them. "I didn't know green was part of Warbler uniform. Wow it is so not your color."
"Alvaro", Jerry said calmly. "As charming as ever I see. Does insulting the one you want to engage in conversation with give you any luck with the ladies? I highly doubt it."
"Comes from the guy smeered in an ugly shade of green", Alvaro sneered. "You really look like peas in a pod now Jonston. Trying to be a 'family'? It is a disfunctional one in that case."
"We are friends Alvaro", Jerry said calmly. "Now back off."
"Why? Don't tell me you are green with jelousy Jonston. Green makes your ugly face even worse."
"Shut up Alvaro", Wesley spat in annoyance. "Didn't you hear that green is the new black?"
"What's that shrimp", Alvaro asked in a mocking way. "Are you also being green with envy?"
"No", Wesley mumbled burying his face in Mark's neck. "I'm just sick of hearing you talk."
Lucas laughed, Mark chuckled deeply and Jerry smiled.
"Get a move on Alvaro", he said and patted the younger boy on the shoulder. The Hispanic was staring at the small boy on Mark's back. "And don't worry, we will take care of Wes and make sure he isn't sick anymore."
Alvaro pushed past them grumbling:
"He's sick in the head. Why else wouldn't his family want him?"
Mark growled and turned but Wesley mumbled:
"Don't."
And the giant froze, Jerry glared daggers at the freshman's retreating form but it was Lucas who did something out of character. He reached into his collar and pulled out a fist full of melting slushie. He looked at it and then down the hall.
"Hey Alvaro", he called and the freshman turned around.
"Yeah", he asked and SPLAT! He got hit in the face by the slushie Lucas flung at his face. Alvaro wiped it off and stared at Lucas who only fixed his tie and walked on. Jerry followed looking smug and Mark chuckled and followed them.
"What did I miss", Wes whispered to Mark.
"Nothing, nothing little buddy", Mark said happily.
Now I bet you all wonder how Alvaro knows that Wesley's family doesn't want him. Well a few days back Carmichael gathered all students, except Wesley in the school's BIG auditorium and there told them the reason why there was a twelve-year-old at Dalton. The reason he did this was because nasty rumors had started to snuck their way into Dalton and he figured the truth was better than letting them run amok.
After that little gathering, that Wesley had been kept from, all boys in the Dragon went to Wesley's room and told him they would be there for him if he needed it. Some of them even told him to don't give a damn about his asshole of a father and count them as his family instead. Wesley had been touched by all this, he knew people here treated each other good… but he had never dreamt of something like this. So now when the group walked down the hallway towards Wesley's room everyone asked if they were okay. Jerry calmed them all down and soon closed the door to Wesley's room and he sighed heavily.
"Wow… now what do we do?" he asked leaning on the door.
Lucas gave him a look.
"Do you want to be green all day Jerry or are you going to wash off?" he asked. "I planned on doing that, but first I think we should help Shorty get his eyes working again."
"I'll get clothes for you two", Mark mumbled as he set Wesley down and then left the room to get Jerry and Lucas some clean clothes. Lucas and Jerry both helped Wesley into the bathroom and helped him wash off his face so that he could open his eyes without it stinging and when he did, he was glaring. His eyes were bloodshot and he was angry at Julian, Nathan and Otto but he was annoyed with Lucas because the teen was sitting down again… on the toilet but he was sitting. Wesley turned his blood-red eyes to him.
"I hate you", he said.
"I know Shorty", Lucas said smiling. "I love you too."
Wesley stuck his tongue out and left to his bedroom again and they heard him search through a drawer and they followed him, after washing off themselves first. Wesley was still green in the hair and on his shoulders and chest but he was going to wash off when he found what he was looking for.
Mark soon returned and looked at the boy that had thrown his pajamas on the floor and was searching something through his wardrobe. Mark took a look around the room. It was still tragically empty, there were a few more books in the bookshelves and a few pictures of the Warblers and there were a few uniforms and training clothes in the wardrobe but not that many 'civilian' clothes. Mark decided to let Mitch and Justine loose on the boy the sooner the better. He knew Justine was dying to be allowed to take Wesley shopping, she even offered to pay for everything he wanted to buy, her family was loaded she was the richest girl/guy in the school.
"Wes what are you doing", Mark asked after handing Lucas and Jerry their clothes.
"Searching", Wesley said and rummaged through the bag he'd gotten from the martial arts coach, to have training stuff and first aid kit in.
"For what", Lucas asked appearing, sitting, on the empty bed of the room. He was in clean clothes again.
"This", Wesley said and held up bandage.
"Bandage", Jerry asked cocking an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Revenge", Wesley grumbled and headed into the bathroom to wash off, he brought his pajamas with him and closed the door. Jerry, Lucas and Mark looked at each other.
"That kid is evil", Lucas said.
"No he's not", Mark said fondly. "He is wicked."
"As in cool or as in well wicked?"
"Depends on the situation", Jerry said fondly.
"I heard that!" Wesley called and came out from the bathroom and he held up the bandage. "A hand here?"
Jerry walked over and helped him tie it over his eyes and Wesley told them of his plan of getting back at the slushie-throwers and the older boys loved the idea. The fact that Wesley's pajamas was three sizes too big completed the image of a wounded and broken little boy.
Nathan Newland had never felt so bad in his entire life! It had been his idea to empty the big slushie cups on some of their friends in the library as a joke and ease the stress a bit. He had not planned for anyone getting hurt and least of all his little buddy Wesley! He and Otto had managed to rope Julian into the prank.
Julian Rose was one of their freshmen Warblers, alongside Otto, Nathan and a couple of more boys. Julian was mostly quiet and kinda blended into the crowd, but he did have a sense of humor and loved playing pranks so roping him in hadn't been too hard. They had started to brainstorm for ideas while eating/drinking slushies in the cafeteria, they had bought them downtown. It was when doing that that Nathan had gotten the idea. He had remembered how much everyone laughed when Wesley got Alvaro to drench himself in a smoothie.
"I got it!" he had exclaimed and told the other two of his plan to get some of their more studious Warbler friends to lighten up… and chill a bit. They had headed for the library and had soon seen Lucas and Jerry at a table and they all knew what that meant. They were helping Wesley with homework. The boy had been working very hard and would probably need something to lighten his mood. And seeing Lucas and Jerry in green would probably help doing that. After all the kid had quite the good sense of humor.
They had snuck onto the balcony-like floor above the table where the three had been sitting and they had caught a bit of their discussion. Lucas had been saying something about some papers.
"You'll get three minutes and you will have to finish as many as you can and if you get a certain amount of right answers I'll give you a reward", Lucas had explained to Wesley.
"Does that work", Wesley had asked confused.
"That's how I learned it", Lucas had said smiling and the three boys above had shared a look and Nathan had nodded.
"Heads up!" he had yelled and the trio had emptied their cups over the three boys below. His shout had caused the reaction he had been looking for, the guys had looked up and gotten hit square in the face with green slushie. They had looked so ridiculous that the trio that threw had started to laugh at once.
"Idiots!" Jerry had yelled at them flying up from his seat, removing his glasses. "Just wait until I can get my hands on you!"
"Oh chill Jer", Nathan had called down grinning at them. Jerry had looked hilarious all green in the face except from where his eyes were. "It was just a prank."
Lucas had removed his glasses, that had protected his eyes and he had looked up at them.
"Where did you get your hands on slushies", he had asked coldly.
"Oh downtown", Otto had said leaning on the railing looking smug.
"Why is it green?"
"What you don't like green", Julian had asked grinning.
"I do. But not on my face, shoulders, neck, chest or in my hair."
The trio had grinned but they stopped when they heard Wesley whimper. Lucas and Jerry's faces had turned to the kid and all five had seen that he was pressing his hands to his eyes and shivered as if he was cold.
"Wes", Jerry had asked walking around the table and putting a hand on the boy's back and Nathan had felt guilty. "What is it?"
"My eyes", Wesley had whimpered and Nathan's eyes had widened in terror. "They're burning. It hurts."
The trio that threw the slushies had felt horrible because they had just realized Wesley's eyes had been left unprotected so they'd taken the blunt of the attack. The trio had shared a guilty look with each other as Jerry wiped the slushie out of Wesley's face. The boy had been squeezing his eyes shut and had then whimpered again.
"Kid are you okay", Jerry had asked pushing Wesley's chair back so he could sit in front of him.
"It hurts Jerry", Wesley had whimpered slightly. Lucas had gotten up, looking like a storm cloud. He had taken Wesley's hand.
"Come with me Shorty", he had said and pulled the kid up. "Let's go get cleaned up and I'll make sure those eyes of yours are fine. Don't worry, you'll soon be back to using those puppy eyes of yours."
As he said that Nathan had nodded to Otto and Julian and the three of them had slunk out of the library and the last thing Nathan had heard before shutting the door was Wesley asking in a weak voice:
"You promise?"
"I feel like crap", Julian said in the cafeteria where the trio was eating dinner with all of the Warblers save Mark, Jerry, Lucas and Wesley.
"You'll pass whatever test you are fretting about", Eric said calmly before taking a bite of his pasta. "You always do so stop mopping."
"I'm not mopping because of some failed test", Julian said and lifted his head from the table. "I'm mopping because-"
"There was a little accident in the library that we might have had a finger in", Nathan cut him off. No need to anger everyone buy telling them they had hurt Wesley. Julian glared at him before letting his face fall onto the table with a *SLAM*. It made all plates, glasses and cutlery jump and the Warbles around the table winced at the pain that must have cause. Since they were 30 Warblers with Wesley counted they didn't fit around a table so they sat around five. Joining Eric and the trio by their table was one of the seniors. A boy named Scott Crawford. Scott chuckled.
"What did you do this time", he asked and smiled slightly.
"Oh nothing much", Otto hurriedly said.
Justine looked around the room.
"Has anyone seen Mama, Papa, Lucas or Wes", she asked and Nathan found his food really fascinating, Otto looked out the window and Julian groaned into the tabletop. Scott cocked an eyebrow looking at the door.
"That's not good", he said and Julian looked up at him.
"What", he asked.
"Papa looks mad."
All the Warblers turned and saw Mark Connors walk towards them with anger radiating from his body. Anyone that came nearby him ran the other way or pretended to not be there. Julian, Nathan and Otto wanted to run… but there was no way to avoid Papa Mark and they just knew they were the reason for his anger.
"What's up Mark", Bastian Nolan asked his fellow senior and patted the chair next to him and his younger brother Malcolm Nolan. Mark sank down in the chair and looked murderous.
"Nate, Otto, Julian", he growled deeply and everyone turned to said boys.
"Y-y-yes Pa… Mark", Otto asked fiddling with his napkin. Calling Mark papa now might make things worse.
"Jerry is asking for you", Mark growled. "He's in Wes' room. And he told me to tell you to make it snappy."
"What does Mama want", Nathan asked grinning but it was fake. They could all see he was scared. Mark looked him square in the eye.
"Go." He said with a tone that could cut glass.
"Bye guys!" Nathan hurriedly said before dragging Otto and Julian with him towards the exit and the dorms. When they were gone Mark turned from angry giant on a rampage to a calm and smiling giant. The boys around him stared at him and he explained what was going on and everyone smirked.
Nathan, Otto and Julian were outside of Wesley's door and they were all pale and afraid. Otto reached out and opened the door slowly and gasped at what he saw. Jerry was sitting on Wesley's bed, holding the boy that was leaning against him. Jerry was wearing 'civilian' clothes in form of black sweatpants, purple t-shirt and a black cardigan over it. He had neither shoes nor socks on and he looked a bit sad. Lucas was also dressed in casuals but a bit more… stylish. He was in black dress pants that flattered his legs and he wore a white shirt and a black jacket above that and matching shoes. He was standing up, leaning on the wall while watching Wesley and Jerry. Wesley was dressed in his pajamas and was leaning his head on Jerry's shoulder as the older boy rubbed his back.
"It's okay", Jerry soothed. "The nurse said that you're sight will be back in a few hours as long as you don't expose your eyes to any sun."
"Jerry it hurts", Wesley said with a small voice. "What did I ever do to make Nate and the others hate me?"
The trio by the door froze in horror. They didn't hate him! Why would he ever think that?
"They don't hate you Wes", Jerry said softly. "They were just trying to have some fun."
"Are you sure because this isn't fun at all… I can't see Jerry!"
"I know buddy. It wasn't anything personal."
"But they blinded me! They called to us so that we would look up and I got blinded because of that! I trusted them! I liked them but now they just show that they don't feel the same!"
"No!" Nathan exclaimed and Jerry and Lucas turned to them glaring and Wesley pressed closer to Jerry, it looked as if he was trying to hide within the senior's protective arms. Nathan covered his mouth with his hands and stared at the furious older boys. Otto and Julian looked at their feet, finding the carpet very interesting.
"Oh look who it is", Lucas sneered. "The bullies."
"We're not bullies!" Nathan said panicked. "Please don't report us to Carmichael!"
"Why shouldn't we", Jerry said calmly as he rocked the shaking Wesley back and forth. "Wes won't be able to see until tomorrow because of you three."
"We didn't mean to hurt anyone", Julian mumbled. "We only wanted a bit of fun…"
"Do you guys think it was fun for us", Jerry growled. "Do you think it was fun for us getting our school stuff and ourselves stained with green corn syrup? Do you think the librarian like what happened to her library? Do you think out teachers will like getting our homework back with big stains on them? Do you think Wes enjoys being blinded? Do you think Lucas enjoyed having his clothes ruined and his glasses covered in that sticky stuff? Do you think I enjoy any of this?"
"Uh", Otto said. "Was that rhetorical questions?"
"NO!" Jerry yelled furiously. "It wasn't! Tell me the answers now!"
"Um… " Julian said and looked up shyly. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no."
"A no too many", Nathan whispered.
"I know", Julian whispered back. "It's for upcoming questions."
"Speak up!" Jerry yelled.
"Jerry we're sorry", Otto said walking closer. "What do you want us to do?"
"Explain why", Wesley choked out.
"We just wanted to lighten the mood around here", Nathan said. "Everyone start feeling so dull in autumn and… and… we just wanted to have some fun. I came to think how everyone enjoyed the prank Wes pulled on Alvaro in the cafeteria and-"
"Oh don't get me started on Alvaro Sanchez", Jerry spat. The three freshmen looked at him.
"Uhm… what did he do", Julian asked carefully.
"You don't want to know", Jerry said.
"Of course we do!" Otto said feeling a tad hurt and angry. "He is a jerk that keeps being mean to Wessy! Why wouldn't we wanna know?"
"Julian said no", Lucas said calmly and looked at the younger boys.
"Not to that question", Julian said. "I thought Jerry was going to ask if we were proud of what we've done and we're not! We're really sorry you guys!"
"Are you really", Jerry asked cocking his eyebrows.
"Yes!" the trouble-making trio said.
"Why should we believe you", Wesley asked in that choked up voice again and Jerry was looking at him worriedly. He didn't have to thought because Wesley was shaking because of suppressed laughter. Nathan strode over and actually pulled Wesley out of bed and into his chest as he hugged him.
"Because we do care about you dude", he said. "You're our mini-Warbler, our friend, our playmate… our little brother."
"Little brother Wes", Jerry said and smiled. "I like the sound of that don't you?" He looked at Lucas, who walked over and sat beside Jerry on the bed.
"Little brother Shorty", he stated.
"Stop calling me that", Wesley grumbled.
"Are we forgiving now", Otto asked confused.
The trio that had been slushied shared a look, well Wesley turned his head to where he knew Jerry was and they nodded.
"Okay", Jerry said. "We forgive you."
Nathan squealed and hugged Wesley close again.
"Ow!" he exclaimed. "You're holding me too tight!"
"Oh sorry", Nathan said and let go of him and then leaned down and touched the bandages. "Does it hurt still?"
"It stopped ages ago", Wesley said and took off the bandage and smirked. "That oughta teach you to mess with people half your size."
Nathan stared at the smirking boy in front of him.
"Is it still a fun prank to play", Wesley asked and Nathan, Otto and Julian saw his bloodshot eyes. "Because if you say yes I will make sure your eyes will look worse than mine."
"Oh Wes we're so sorry", Otto hurriedly said. "We didn't mean for you to get hurt… if… if we hadn't hit your face… would it have been fun?"
Wesley suck at his lip.
"Maybe…" he said hesitant.
"Aha I knew it, I knew spilling something onto someone was funny", Nathan said happily while everyone else rolled their eyes at him. It was just so Nathan. He was jumping up and down happily but then he realized something:
"Does this mean we have to clean up the mess in the library?"
"Yes", Lucas and Jerry said.
"Aw man", Nathan said and pouted. Otto patted his back with a smile but then realized something.
"What did Alvaro do and do I have to kick his ass again?" he asked.
"Already taken care of", Lucas said smugly and everyone save Jerry stared at him. But then Wesley glared at him. He realized Lucas was sitting down again and Wesley knew he'd been standing when he was blindfolded, he could feel him stand beside him.
"You're doing this to tease me aren't you?" he asked and Lucas smirked at him and winked. "I hate you Lucas Bedford."
"Love you too Shorty", Lucas said and smiled.
TBC Things seem okay now... but they will go downhill in the next chapter and it is not ONLY because of Alvaro.
Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:
luna13lovegood (since I can't PM you) - Hold that thought about Alvaro ;) As you can see now that slushie was a regular glee slushie.
2005
Warblers Wes' first year (age 12):
Seniors – Mark Connors, Jerry Jonston(chairman), Scott Crawford, Bastian Nolan,
Brad Raymond, Fredric Fitzgerald & Richard Diamond
Juniors – Peter Philips, Michael Abrams, Philip Peters(lead singer), Charles
Owens, Lucas Bedford, Brad Sullivan(councilman) & Ethan Hughes
Sophomores – Joseph Hughes, William Holmes, Roger Smith, Matt Jonson, Austin
Diaz (councilmember secretary), Justin/Justine Gideon, Reed Morgan, Malcolm Nolan
& Tom Bedford
Freshmen – Nathan Newland, Otto Johnson, Julian Rose, Mitch Magnuson, Eric
Anderson, Carl & John Wilkins
Special – Wes
Totally: 30