Part 25
Brad got his whistle back two days later. Wes had been trying to find the perfect hiding place but Brad was lying in wait for him. When Wes walked out of his room Brad grabbed hold of him and tickled him until he let go of the whistle. The battle had started up again though. Wes had tried every single day to get his hands on the whistle. But to no avail. Brad kept too close tabs on the thing.
The weeks up to sectionals went by in a flash and the song that Wes had suggested was to be the first number they did. Jesse had been trying, really, really trying to lead but he just couldn't do it. He didn't know why, he just couldn't. So Philip stepped in and took the lead while Jesse go to lead the second number.
The dance routine was amazing and the Warblers thanked God that they had the dancing twins in their midst. They were up against a choir called Aural Intensity aka the kiss-up choir and they were also up against a new group called Vocal Adrenaline. The Warblers were the only ones who had been in the competition for more than four years. Aural Intensity had competed for four years and always kissed up to the judges, Vocal Adrenaline was completely new.
"We got this in a bag", Jesse said smirking. "There is no way those newbies can take us!"
"Don't be so sure", Wes said from where he was sitting by the piano, helping some of the boys with warm up scales.
"Remember last year", Otto added and gave Austin a pointed look.
"Oi it was not my fault that my gut was wrong", the secretary objected.
"True", Brad said and ruffled his hair. "But who else are we to blame?"
Austin just glared at him and smothered his hair down while grumbling about 'having to get new friends'.
"So what about the smurf", Isaac asked and put a hand on Wes' shoulder. Wes glared at him. The freshmen had taken to calling him smurf for some reason. He had no idea why, but they all did it.
"Wes is going to sit in the rows we have", Mitch explained. "He'll stay there during the entire thing. Right?" He gave Wes a sharp look. The boy rolled his eyes.
"Where would I run off to otherwise?" he asked. "I don't know anyone in this town… or anywhere to go."
"Just checking", Mitch teased.
"Let's go out and watch the show", Nathan said happily and dragged Julian and Michael with him out the door. The others followed laughing slightly.
It turned out that Aural Intensity stuck to their nickname, they kissed up to the judges by doing songs by them or that they would like. But Vocal Adrenaline was a surprise. The group really looked nervous but then they let loose… and they were amazing. Wes gaped when he saw them perform fantastic stunts.
Everything seemed to go perfect and Wes felt that they would have a hard time… until two guys missed the girl they were supposed to catch. They just let her lie on the ground in shock and nearly missed the second one. The girl they dropped got up and stormed off the stage in an angry huff. After that the group got out of sync and some sang off key.
"Newbies", Justin said with a smirk. Wes just rolled his eyes and watched all his friends go to be on stage. As they left someone poked his arm and he turned to his left and saw a girl in with chestnut hair and brown eyes smile at him.
"Hi", she said.
"Hi", he answered back.
"I'm Becca."
"I'm Wes", Wes answered and they shook hands. "Are you enjoying the show?"
"Yes I am. Mom and I always go to watch show choir sectionals. She used to be in a choir back here in Lima where we live."
"That's cool."
"How about you?"
"Oh I'm kind of part of the next group to go on, I'm like their mascot because I'm too young to be onstage according to all rules."
"How old are you?"
"13 and you?"
"I'm 13 too. Are you really 13 because you look a lot younger."
Wes chuckled.
"It's the height", he said. "It takes away a few years. I'm just short."
"I'm short too… I'm 155 centimeters."
"You're taller than me then… I'm just 153."
"Aw that's funny."
"Not when you live at a high school and everyone else are much taller than you. I feel like I'm surrounded by tall trees all the time, lost in a woods… like a dwarf."
She giggled and Wes grinned. She was very cute.
"I like your outfit", she said and pulled on his sleeve. "Uniform?"
"Yeah, I attend an all boys private school… uniforms is a must… even though some people think they should burn them."
"Really? Why? Isn't it fun to be part of a unity?"
"It is but some people loves fashion too much."
"Ugh I hate fashion", she said. "I'm not good at it. The girls at my school calls me weird because I like videogames, Sci-Fi, fantasy and to build things. My dad lets me put together all IKEA furniture because I do it better than he does. It is super awesome."
"That's really cool actually. I like those stuff too… not as much as you probably. My passion is drawing and music."
"Oh so you're an artist?"
"Kinda."
"That is so cool. We have to go out for an ice cream sometime!"
"We must… where did you say you live again?"
"Oh I live with my mom here in Lima but my dad lives in Westerville."
"My school is in Westerville."
"That is so awesome!"
Wes was cut off when he was about to answer because the emcee started talking.
"And now the last performance for the evening", he said. "From Dalton Academy in Westerville, let's give it up for the Warblers!"
Wes cheered loudly and Becca joined in and the curtain was pulled aside. Wes grinned when he saw his friends lined up four rows with seven guys in the further back, six in front of them, six in a diagonal to the left and six in a diagonal to the right. When the audience stopped cheering the boys started to make some noise that turned into a very familiar song.
The audience started cheering because it sounded amazing. Now I suggest you go out on YouTube and look up Funky Town because that's the song they are doing and I have no idea on how to write the sounds the boys do.
Wes beamed happily because the boys were amazing, they danced around as they made those sounds and then Philip made a cartwheel so he ended up center stage and he started singing:
Gotta make a move to a town that's right for me,
Town to get me movin'
Keep me groovin' with some
energy.
Well, I talk about it,
Talk about it
Talk about it
Talk about it
Talk about, Talk about,
Talk about moving,
Gotta move on (2x)
Won't you take me to,
Funkytown? (x3)
Wes was on his feet cheering and Becca joined him… as did the rest of the audience. The Warblers danced around and when they finished they started up the next song and Jesse switched places with Philip. Jesse made a spin and sang: (Jesse, All)
Yo listen up here's a story
About a little guy that lives in a blue world
And all day and all night and everything he sees
Is just blue like him inside and outside
Blue his house with a blue little window
And a blue corvette
And everything is blue for him and himself
And everybody around
Cos he ain't got nobody to listen
This time the Warblers made more techno sounding noises and eight of them beat boxed. Wes started clap his hands to the rhythm.
I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
I have a blue house with a blue window.
Blue is the color of all that I wear.
Blue are the streets and all the trees are too.
I have a girlfriend and she is so blue.
Blue are the people here that walk around,
Blue like my corvette, it's standing outside.
Blue are the words I say and what I think.
Blue are the feelings that live inside me.
I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
Inside and outside blue his house
With the blue little window and a blue corvette
And everything is blue for him and himself
And everybody around cause he ain't got
Nobody to listen
The Warblers were completely quiet and the lights shut off but just before the crowd could start cheering the boys started the chorus one last time.
I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
da ba dee da ba die...
I'm blue
The Warblers had been dancing this time too and now they froze and looked at their feet. The crowd cheered loudly and Wes whistled loudly and his friends took a bow. The Warblers hurried off stage and Wes turned to Becca. She was smiling.
"Do you wanna go and buy a soda", she asked and Wes nodded and the two left together.
"Hey", Charles said and tapped Lucas on the shoulder.
"What", Lucas asked looking up from where he was getting his coffee.
"Check out the kid", Charles said and smirked. Lucas followed his gaze, nearly choking on his coffee. He saw his Shorty talk and laugh with a girl around his own age. They were both having a good time as they drank sodas and talked. Charles grinned and turned to Lucas who still looked shocked.
"Yo dudes whatcha looking at", William asked as he walked over. Charles only sniggered and Lucas shook his head. William followed their gaze and grinned. "Wow, the kid got skills."
"What", Lucas asked and looked up at that. He'd been looking at his black blazer and saw Wes and write something on the girl's arm. She smiled brightly, took the pen and wrote something on his hand. The two younger kids continued to talk and laugh after that.
More and more Warblers noticed them and most of them grinned, some just shook their heads and some… got very protective. That was mainly Nathan and Otto. That girl could seriously hurt their kid if she decided to break his heart. Nathan was about to march over and intervene, but Mitch grabbed his hand.
"Knock that off", he said as Nathan pulled on his hand. "They are just talking."
"It's way more than that!" Nathan objected.
"How?"
"Look at how close she stands to him and how her fingers are twitching!"
"So", Justin said. "She wants to hold his hand, big deal."
"It is! Wes is just a kid", Otto objected.
"He's thirteen", Austin said and gave Otto a indifferent look. "Of course he's interesting in girls his own age. Heck we were as well in that age or after other boys depending on who you're asking."
"But he's so young", Nathan whined.
"I had my first boyfriend when I was eleven", Mitch said with a shrug and everyone stared at him. "What?"
"You dated when you were eleven", Justin asked him.
"Yeah he was two years older and really hot… not as hot as you." The last he aimed at his boyfriend. "It was just puppy love. Like that." He nodded at the two 13 year olds. "They are just having fun and talking about stuff. It's good for Wes to hang out with someone his own age, especially girls. There is too much testosterone at Dalton."
"Amen to that", Justin said.
"Let's go say hi!" Julian said happily and before anyone could stop him he had walked up to the couple. "Hi there Wes and Wes' friend. Did you two like the show?"
"Hi Julian", Wes said and smiled. "Yeah, you guys were amazing. Oh Becca this is Julian, one of the Warblers and Julian this is my friend Becca."
"Hi", Julian said and shook her hand. "Becca, it is nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too", she said smiling. She was very pretty Julian figured, way too young for him but still pretty. "Wes told me all about the Warblers. Is it true he is having war on a tin whistle."
"That thing is evil I tell you", Wes cut in and she giggled. "Evil!"
"He is actually having war on that thing", Julian said and put his hands in his pockets. "And it is quite evil."
"Well", Becca said happily. "I guess I shouldn't laugh because I have started war against the postman."
"What", Julian asked and Wes laughed.
"He keeps stealing my letters I know it", Becca said. "I write tones of tem to friends and people in other countries but never get any answers! He must steel them because he collects stamps or something. I swear he has a mountain of them at home!"
"How exactly do you battle him then", Julian asked, a bit afraid of the answer.
"Oh I build advanced traps and he blames the neighborhood boys because and I quote: 'such a sweet and pretty little flower as Rebecca-Rose Hamilton would never do such a thing'!"
"Must be the dresses that puts him off", Wes cut in.
"Most likely."
Julian looked at her confused. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that was a few sizes too big and underneath it she had a tank top.
"Uh", he said.
"Mom forces me to wear dresses as often as possible", Becca said. "I hate it though, I don't feel pretty."
"You are really pretty so I doubt that", Wes said and she smiled and hugged him.
"You are so much nicer than other boys our age", she said happily and the lights started to blink. "Oh the results! Come on Lee!" She took his arm and they hurried to the salon. Julian blinked in confusion.
"Lee", he asked but then hurried towards the Warblers that were waving at him impatiently.
"Aren't you going to join them onstage", Becca asked as they sat down and the three choirs took the stage.
"And leave you here all alone with just your mom", Wes teased. "Forget it."
"Oh you're so sweet", she said and took his hand. "I hope you guys win."
"I do too", Wes said. "It would mean a party tonight… or just a movie night. We haven't had a bonding party yet."
"That sounds so fun", Becca said. "I'm really getting jealous. I'd love to go to an all boys school!"
"But you're a girl Becca, they would never let you."
"Ha! Let's see them try to stop me." She said happily and Wes snorted.
Becca's mom were watching them with a fond smile. She had no idea who this little Asian was, but her daughter already seemed fond of him and that didn't bother her in the slightest. He seemed to be very polite and kind, he really was adorable too. She knew he must be related to one of the boys she saw in those uniform before. The question was which one he was related too. She hadn't noticed any Asians in the group.
"And now let's give it up for our head judge", the emcee said. "Secretary to the mayor of Lima Ms. Louisa Berg!"
A woman in her forties came onto the stage and she smiled happily as she walked up to the microphone with her envelopes.
"Such wonderful performances we've had", she said smiling. "I have never seen so much talent in one place. I'd love to have Aural Intensity Fly me to the moon and to go with the Warblers to Funky town and of course to let Vocal Adrenaline Rock me like a hurricane." The audience laughed just a little, to be polite and she smiled. "Now in third place…" She slowly opened the envelope. "Vocal Adrenaline."
The group cheered and smiled but Wes and Becca saw anger on their faces and the anger was aimed at the poor boys who'd dropped that girl. She didn't hide her anger though, she stormed off the stage again and her friends followed with their trophy. Wes and Becca looked at each other and shrugged. But Wes feared that with more practice this group of kids would be unbeatable, but hopefully that would take a while. Then it was time to hand out first place's prize and Wes crossed his fingers and closed his eyes.
"And now", the head judge said smiling as brightly as before. "In first place… a clear first place… The Warblers!"
The boys onstage started to jump up and down while they cheered and Wes flew up and jumped up and down as well. Ms. Berg handed Brad the trophy from first place and Kim and Nathan hurried up to the stage's edge.
"Come on", they said and waved at Wes. He smiled and took their hands and was pulled onstage. The audience cheered loudly for them and Wes smiled at Becca. She made a gesture that said: "Call me." Wes only smiled back and winked at her before being engulfed in a bear hug.
The joy onstage knew no boundaries and Wes knew that Jerry and the other graduates would be so proud of them all. He was a bit surprised when even Jesse hugged him while laughing happily. But Wes didn't give a damn and hugged the freshman back. But he then squeaked as someone gripped his waist and he was pulled from Jesse. Jesse was also pulled back and Wes heard Philip squawk somewhere in the mass. The world spun as Wes was hoisted onto Rob and Michael's shoulders but when it stopped he just grinned. Philip was on Charles and Brad's shoulders and Jesse on the Everett twins' shoulders. The three of them grinned at each other and then cheered loudly.
"Oh such a nice mascot you have", Ms. Berg told them and the Warblers snorted but didn't give an explanation to who the tiny Asian was, but who gives a damn. They just made it to regionals!
"Sooooo", Otto said as he dropped down beside Wes and threw his arm around the thin boy's shoulders. "Who was that girl."
"Just a friend", Wes said with a shrug.
"Oh really?"
"Yup. Her name is Becca and she loves Sci-Fi, video games, fantasy, to build stuff oh and she has declared war on the postman at her mom's house in Lima."
"She what?" The boys around him asked. The boys in the seats in front of him turned around to look at him, the boys in the seats behind him and Otto stood up so that they could look down on Otto and Wes and the boys on the other side of the aisle turned to them. Wes started giggling because they all looked hilarious.
"She's fighting the postman", he explained. "Not that he knows it though, he thinks it's the boys that lives in the neighborhood."
"Typical the prettiest girls are always crazy", Jesse teased.
"She's not crazy", Wes defended his new friend. "If she's crazy I'm crazy because I'm battling a freaking tin whistle!" The boys around him laughed.
"Look he's already defending his girlfriend", Otto teased.
"Shut up", Wes said and looked out the window. The Warblers just laughed. "Can we go now?"
"We're just waiting for Kim", Brad called to the Warblers from the front of the buss where he was talking to the driver. Wes sighed and looked out through the window.
Kim was right now walking away from the bathrooms, grumbling in Swedish about stupid Americans and their need to talk while you are in the bathroom. Both guys on either side of him had started talking to him, congratulating him on a show well done. Kim had just smiled politely. He had no desire to talk to these guys while he was… minding his own business. He was still grumbling about that when he left the building so he didn't see the girl that was walking in the other direction. So they collided and she fell.
"Oh shit I'm sorry!" Kim exclaimed and hurriedly helped her up. "You okay? I hurt you?"
"No", she said calmly. "I'm not hurt. You not hurt me."
"Good", he said and handed her the purse she'd dropped. "I am sorry I did not see where I was going."
"I figured you not see."
"Pardon?"
"I", she said very slowly, as if he was stupid. "Understand you no see."
"Why are you talking to me as if I'm stupid?"
"Oh sorry I thought you had some… combination because of how you spoke before."
"Well I'm not from this land… country."She giggled when she saw the annoyed look on his face and Kim looked at her, really looked at her and felt himself go weak in the knees.
"I'm Daisy", she said and held her hand out.
"Jag heter Kim", he said and took her hand.
"What?" She asked confused.
"Kim!" He exclaimed and let go of her hand, blushing madly. "My name, Kim… uh I'm Kim." She giggled again.
"I saw you perform", she said.
"Jasså?"(Oh?)
"Uh… yeah… anyway your choir was really good."
"I vet", he twitched. "Know! I know."
She cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Ooookay", she said and pointed over her shoulder. "I… uh gotta go? Go I gotta go."
"Okej", Kim said.
"I'll see you around", she said and turned around looking confused.
"Vi ses", he realized he still didn't speak English."See you! I meant ses! No see! Argh!" He got frustrated and ran a hand over his face before heading towards the buss. Not noticing Daisy turn around and giggle softly. She watched him go and she smiled a little, while blushing. The Warblers had seen everything and when Kim got on the bus they all looked at him.
"Not. A. Word", he growled and slumped down in an empty pair of seats. The Warblers just laughed, except for Wes. He was looking out the window. The bus started driving and he saw Becca by her mom's car. She looked up and saw him. She waved happily and Wes waved back, grinning.
TBC Aww no one guessed :(
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Sarah - Not in the flesh. Sorry.