Part 17

The rest of the summer went by in a flash. Mike, Wes and Tina had the most fun they'd ever had and true like all kids they argued at times but they always made up. They played games with the other kids, they did activities with the counselors and went to their classes but most of the time they just hung out and had fun.

A few days before it was about to leave Wes discovered something… the electricity in the camp had a timer and every night ten minutes to midnight it closed down everything and restarted again after ten minutes. He asked Nina about it and she said it was new for the year so no one knew about it. Wes smirked evilly when he heard that and asked her for permission to play a joke on the older kids. She agreed and smiled, she hadn't missed the older kids giving Wes and his friends some grief during camp. So a little payback she would be okay with. So during the last assembly at the fire, when all kids below the age of 13 had been ushered off to bed Wes decided to strike.

"Anyone wanna hear a ghost story", he asked and some kids turned to him.

"Is it like the one about that castle-lady", a kid asked. "Because that wasn't so scarry."

"Nope… this is about something more close to home."

"How", Andy asked.

"Because it has to do with this camp", Wes said and smirked, praying that his voice wouldn't go all squeaky again. "I did some digging before coming here and it turned out that many years ago a girl died at this camp."

"Really", a girl asked and looked interested.

"Yeah she drowned in the lake and some say it was murder, some say it was just a freaky accident but the point is… that she is still here."

A girl squeaked and grabbed hold of one of the boys, Wes smirked, she was one of the girls bothering Tina... who along with Mike would be able to watch the recording of this thing tomorrow. Nina had told him she'd tape everything and show it at the end ceremony, she liked poking some fun with her kids now and then.

"You see", Wes said. "She was a counselor and took care of all kids even though she didn't have to. She loved this place more than anything else and stayed longer than anyone else each year. Her parents it's said were drunks, or hoboes I don't know, the stories are never the same depending on who you ask. All I know is that she didn't want to stay with her parents so she stayed here and looked after the place… and that's what she still does. Maybe some of you have felt that someone's been watching you at night or when you've been out alone."

Some of the kids nodded, looking terrified.

"That's her and her name is Elisa", Wes went on. "Now here's the thing. She loves this place so much and when someone does something bad to another kid she gets angry and she shows that."

"How", Andy asked.

"If she is angry she will at ten minutes to midnight turn off all the lights in this place and it will not work trying to light any lamps."

"You're bluffing", a fifteen-year old girl said. "That ain't true!" The grownups didn't say anything, they knew what Wes was doing and they liked the idea. Wes shrugged.

"Believe what you want", he said. "But she gets mad when someone is mean to other kids and I saw some real mean stuff today." He glared at Andy who'd pushed Mike into the lake today, fully dressed.

"Oh so the lights are gonna go out in five minutes then", he asked Wes.

"Yes if she's angry."

"Get outta here", Andy said.

"Fine if you don't believe me you don't have too… But I'm gonna wait until ten minutes to midnight… maybe I'll get a chance to see her."

"Nothing's gonna happen", Ryan said smiling. "There are no such things as ghosts."

"Suit yourself", Wes said and shrugged and leaned back on the tree he was leaning on. No one moved because everyone wanted to proof him wrong. They were all talking and having fun but then… the lights all went out. The kids screamed in terror, except Wes, and ran in every possible direction. Wes only looked smug before getting up, whistling and walking off to his cabin.

"Now that kid is evil", Lisa told the other grownups and they all nodded. Nina only looked smug.

The auditorium at camp wasn't the biggest in the world but all kids fit in and their parents too. Everyone was laughing at the video Nina had just showed them, from last night. Mike, Wes and Tina fistbumped and then sat down waiting for Nina to finish her speech about the summer. The three had exchanged e-mails and promised to mail each other whenever they could… and maybe they'd get together during the school year. But if not… well they'd meet up at camp again. There was some singing and other performances. Nina handed out awards to the students that had excelled best in the classes. Tina got for singing, Mike dancing and Wes got first prize in martial arts.

"Now we only have one prize left", Nina said happily. "And that's the prize for camper of the year. 'Sadly last year's winner, Jenna Rowland wasn't here this year. So let's see… um Lisa."

"Yes?" Lisa asked confused.

"What was the motivation again?"

"Nina seriously", Lisa said walking onto the stage while the kids laughed. "You'd forget your head if it wasn't attached to your shoulders… she turned to the kids and their parents. "The camper of the year is a person that always puts his friends' best in first, who can play with everyone, that the kids all have fun with and isn't afraid of telling someone off when they are being less than friendly. And of course… have the best ghost stories. Wes Montgomery." The kids up to age 12 cheered loudly and Wes got up and took the offered prize and shook hands with Nina and Lisa.

"Now that closes up Asian Camp", Nina called. "I hope to see you next summer!"

"Wes this is my mom and dad", Mike said and pulled Wes over to an Asian couple. Tina was standing with them, her parents had gotten food poisoning so they couldn't come and get her, the Changs offered to give her a ride.

"Mom, dad this is Wes", Mike said and Wes shook hands with the Changs.

"Mike's told us a lot about you", Mr. Chang said and smiled. "Except for how short you are."

"Dad!" Mike objected and Wes smiled.

"Yeah I'm a bit on the short side", he side and then looked at Mike. "Well I gotta go now or I'll miss the buss back to Westerville."

"Wait Westerville", Mrs. Chang asked. "Honey we can give you a ride if you want."

"Really?" Wes asked.

"Yeah we have to go through Westerville anyway", Mr. Chang said. "Where can we drop you off?"

"Outside of Dalton Academy… my folks will pick me up there after work", Wes said and looked at Mike who grinned. Mike took his bag and ran to the car, Wes followed after thanking the Changs again.

"Aw shit", Wes mumbled as he stood outside of Dalton… which were full of boys arriving. School didn't start until Monday so he'd thought he might have the whole weekend alone… hoping his voice would actually stop squeaking before he met all of his friends again. The Changs, Mike and Tina had all said goodbye and he'd hugged his friends.

At the camp he'd felt like a normal kid and no one had stared at him, except from when he got even with the kids being nasty to him and Tike, he'd felt like one of the kids… but now back at Dalton… he sighed because he was going to be the funny thing again. The new freshmen would stare at him and probably make fun of him. But Carmichael had gotten everyone to promise to not tell the freshmen why he was there, to make the risk smaller for Wes being bullied. As he walked towards the doors, carrying his things he could feel grownups and students stare at him. The students that stared weren't in uniform.

"Freshmen", Wes muttered as he walked inside and headed for the office to tell Carmichael he was there. It was hard getting through the crowd of boys. Some of them wore the black uniform of the seniors, but mostly it was navy blue that surrounded him or boys dressed in sweatpants or jeans. He grinned at some of the boy that he knew from the year before and they grinned back.

"You still here", one guy teased and ruffled Wes' hair before hurrying along with his parents. Wes only shook his head and got to the office. Carmichael's secretary smiled brightly at him and nodded at the door, telling him could go in. He left his bags by the door and stepped inside.

"Wesley!" Carmichael said happily and walked over and gave him a quick hug. "Look at you! You've grown!"

"I know", Wes said with a smile. "Now I don't feel like such a pygmy sir… but hopefully I'll grow some more, 152 cm isn't really tall."

"Well with some fresh air, good food and just good social environment I think you will grow just fine. Your life hasn't been easy so it will affect your growing Wes."

"I know sir, you told me before the summer. Where can I get my uniforms?"

"Well we had some ordered just for you… they might be a bit big still but we want you to grown into them. So was camp nice?"

"Yes sir it was a lot of fun and I met new friends and frenemies."

Carmichael laughed.

"That's good, your room is still the same in the Dragon and you might get a roomy this year Wes." His desk phone rang. "Oh shoot, sorry Wes we will have to talk later okay?"

"Yes sir", Wes said happily and left. He took his bags and were about to walk out the door when he collided with an older boy with brown wavy hair.

"Watch it", the guy said.

"Sorry", Wes said. "I didn't see you."

"Whatever kid", the guy grumbled and Wes walked out the door. "Hey wait!" Wes turned around.

"Yeah", he asked.

"What are you supposed to be", the guy asked.

"A Dalton Academy student", Wes said and walked off. While he walked he whistled happily and those who saw him kept staring at him, new students of course.

Wes was unpacking his stuff singing happily to the record he had on. The room was a bit dusty so he had grabbed the vacuum cleaner from the shared cleaning cabinet and vacuumed. The boys that had dumped their stuff in his room had already been there to get it, Wes had told them where he would hide the key so that they could do it.

When he was in his room he never locked the door because it scared him to know he couldn't just open the door and step out. It was because of bad childhood memories. Sometimes his grandparents would lock him up to keep the he's-just-a-cousin-lie alive. They would lock him into a tiny room where no one would look and no matter how much he screamed or hit on the door he'd be heard.

His worst memory was from a stormy night where he was locked into a closet, his dad, stepmom and siblings had arrived unexpectedly so his grandfather just grabbed him by the arm and locked him into the best place he found… a closet on the top floor. There was a window so Wes could see the lightning and hear the rain… he felt too close to it and was horrified. He still hated small, closed spaces and knew he'd probably freak out if he got locked up somewhere at the school. He was awoken from his thoughts by a shrill sound echoing through his room.

"AAAAH!" he screamed in terror and covered his ears. "Brad!" He twirled around and saw the short older boy stand in the door. Brad was brown-haired, with blue eyes and ivory skin which looked even whiter when he was dressed in the black Dalton senior uniform. He was wearing the trench coat because of the chilly wind that had picked up outside.

"Hey kid what's up", he asked grinning… and pocketing the cursed silver whistle.

"Not much… unpacking my stuff", Wes said with a shrug. "What are you doing in the Dragon? I thought you lived in the birdhouse."

"Stop calling it birdhouse", Brad said with a small smile. "You know as well as me that it's called Vermilion Bird... Vermilion or the Bird for short."

"Yeah but I don't want to go around calling your dorm for a color", Wes teased and Brad smiled and walked over to him. Giving him a hug.

"It's nice to see you again kid", he said as Wes hugged him back. "You've grown!"

"Soon I'm as tall as you", Wes teased.

"Hey I may just be 165 cm but you won't reach that height… ever!"

"I grew about 2.5 decimeters this summer… don't you think I can outgrow you?"

"Never", Brad said and hugged him again. "I gotta get back to the Bird. Carmichael made me dorm prefect! I must make sure all the kids get settled in alright! See ya at Warbler rehearsals later today!"

"Is anyone even here?" Wes called after him.

"A few", Brad called back and was soon gone. Wes shrugged and returned to unpacking his stuff, turning his radio on listening to what was playing. He sang along and danced a bit as he unpacked. As he spun around his eyes landed on his sketchpad and the pencils he'd gotten from Mark. He froze and walked over and opened it up. He hadn't touched it all summer. He looked at all the drawings, the last was a sketch of a dragon and on the page beside it… Wes saw that someone had written there. He sat down and looked at the text.

Wes when you read this we're all on our way or already gone from Dalton. We just wanted to wish you good luck, keep an eye on those goofs for us and keeps us posted, just because we're not active Warblers anymore doesn't mean we don't want to know what you guys come up with. Take care and we'll see you again someday.

The message was signed by all the seniors leaving last year and Wes smiled fondly, wondering how they got hold of his sketchpad. Suddenly he felt a pair of hands covering his eyes.

"Guess who", a voice whispered in his ear.

"Lucas!" Wes shouted happily and spun around hugging the older boy.

"Got it in one Shorty", Lucas said happily and hugged him back. "Gods I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too. Did you get my postcard from camp?"

"Sure did, it looked as if you had fun… on Jerry's reputation?"

"It was his idea to send me there… besides all grownups loved me… and the little kids."

They talked for almost an hour about their summers. Lucas had spent most of it with his siblings just having fun and relaxing. He had worked some too but for the most part he just relaxed. He'd met Mark as the older boy was passing by to get to school. He looked even bigger than normal, more muscles and was pumped to get to school and start working to fulfill his dream. After a bit Lucas' phone rang and it was Brad, telling him to get his sorry ass to Warbler practice. Wes and Lucas went together.

"MY BABY!" Nathan screamed and threw his arms around Wes hugging him tight, lifting him off the air and spinning him around and around in a wide circle. The room filled with laughter.

"Hey I thought I was your baby", Mitch teased.

"No you're my baby", Nathan said winking at him and Mitch blushed. Otto nudged him lightly. All of the boys from last year were there except for a few, Justine was one of the missing ones.

"Nate I can't breathe!" Wes said after a bit and Nathan let go of him, for a few seconds. He sat down on the couch and when Wes walked past him to say hello to a few of the other boys Nathan reached out and grabbed him around the middle and pulled him onto his lap.

"Mine!" he said and everyone laughed again.

"Hey don't you hog all of our baby", Otto told him and smacked him up the head.

"Ow!"

They all jumped when a shrill sound was heard and they covered their ears. Wes then sent a death glare at the council table where Brad and Austin were seated. Brad was now in the middle seat… having Jerry's whistle in his mouth still.

"Yo dude do you even know where that thing's been", Matt shouted at him.

"In Jerry's mouth", Otto asked.

"In a cake, in a drawer, in a box, in a potted plant, in a toothbrush stand", Wes started counting on his fingers.

"Don't worry", Brad said smirking. "I put it in the dishwasher." Everyone laughed. "And I rubbed that wound-cleaning-alcohol-thingie on it to get rid of the germs."

"Well Wes will soon get rid of it", Austin said. "Let me know when you do so I can start the party."

"Ha!" Brad said. "Never! Jerry might've let him get it but I won't."

"Ooooh sounds like a challenge", Wes said and grinned.

"Bring it on squirt."

"Consider it brought."

"I love it when they go all gangsta", Charles said and reached over and grabbed Wes' hand giving it a squeeze. The last weeks of last year Charles redeemed himself by saving Wes from some drunken kids from Westerville High. The Warblers had been at the Bean and were on their way home when those jerks started shouting stuff at them. Mark and Jerry had walked close to Wes of course but at one point Wes stumbled and they didn't notice so he and Charles were a bit behind the others. That's what those drunks needed. One of them ran at Wes, pushed him and then went for a hit… but Charles acted fast and punched the guy before he could, Jerry flew around and stopped the other guy and then Mark just had to yell:

"HEY!" for the others to run. Wes forgave Charles for everything after that as did the other Warblers.

"So who's going to be the third councilman", William asked grinning.

Brad and Austin looked at each other, got up and then walked down to the boys standing closest to the door. They put their arms around one of them.

"Are you kidding me", Joseph Hughes asked in shock. "Me? Why the hell me?!"

"Because you're a leader type", Brad said. "Oh and the other seniors threatened to kill us."

Everyone laughed again and Joseph hugged his new council-colleagues. By this time Otto had managed to "snag" Wes from Nathan and was giving him a hug. That's when the doors slammed open and a girl with black hair, nice tan, black stilettos and a red tight dress walked in.

"Where are my boys", she said and walked over to the couch where Wes, Nathan, Otto and Mitch was sitting. She dropped onto Mitch's lap and kissed him on the lips and then hugged him. Nathan growled but then she turned so he saw her face, he grinned.

"Hi Justine", he said happily. She got up from Mitch's lap and kissed Nathan on the cheek, then did the same to Otto and then she saw Wes.

"Oh baby", she started with a big smile and pulled him up on his feet and her big smile disappeared. "What are you wearing?" her voice was dry and almost disgusted. Wes looked at his clothes, sweatpants, T-shirt, his hoodie from camp and trainers.

"What", he asked. "I've been wearing the same the whole summer."

She took a grip of the hoodie as if it was a dirty napkin or something.

"Ew common-cotton", she said.

"What did you suspect, silk?"

"That or satin", she said.

"Mitch get your girl-friend away from me!" Wes groaned. Mitch got up and Justine shrieked and Mitch looked at his clothes, he was dressed like Wes… most boys were.

"What", Mitch asked.

"Oh no, no, no", Justine said and grabbed his hand. "This will not do! We have a fashion catastrophe here!"

"Sweetie summer just ended and we've been travelling."

"So? I've been travelling too and still look amazing", she made a little twirl.

"That you do… love the black hair by the way."

"Now", Justine said and rolled up imaginary arms. "What can we do?"

"Run for it", Wes asked the boys.

"Run for it", they said and they all ran from the black-haired girl and everyone but Mitch made it out. He was standing too close to her. The craziness that was the Warblers had started again and that signaled the start for a new year at Dalton.

TBC Well no one could guess the song so I guess I have to dedicate this chapter to you all ;)

Another ghost story based of places I've visited. When I had my confirmation (still don't know why because God and I are not friends) we went to a camp and the camp director told us that the electricity go out each night at midnight. Once he had a school class there and they were really getting on his nerves so he told the story, similiar to the one I told and spooked the crap out of those kids ;)

Oh and I found this video on youtube where Telly Leung (Wes) sings with Paolo Montalban and I just got the idea: "This is what it would look like if Wes and Jerry sang together when both were grown up!"

This video: Allegiance - Better Americans In A Greater America

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

Paula - Jag är glad att du gillar det fortfarande ;)