Part 33
Regionals were coming up and they needed songs to perform. They had all agreed that Philip would take the lead on one song and Jesse the other. Well majority decided that because Austin was still against it. But he folded for the masses. Wes started to wonder if it wasn't something personal and had asked Austin about it. Austin just said:
"I don't trust that guy. He's one of those people that would step over his fallen friends with now regret to get what he wants. I am pretty sure that if he got to choose between hurting his friends or a girl that he really loves and some title he'd take the title."
Wes had nodded and left Austin alone for the rest of the day. He'd been acting really nervous lately and they were all wondering why. But they had to think about that later, right now they had to think of regionals.
"So", Brad said and looked at the group. "Do we have any idea of what to sing?"
A few hands came up and gave suggestions, but nothing that really spoke to the group. Wes was thinking his hardest, hoping he'd figure something out. Then he grinned and raised his hand.
"Warbler Wes", Brad said and Wes grinned and got up.
"Two words for you", he said. "Lion King."
The Warblers looked at each other and some looked as if they were liking the idea but then Jesse said:
"If we wanted to join the baby choirs we could do that."
Wes glared at him.
"What's that supposed to mean", he asked.
"It's a kids-movie", Jesse told him. "No one will take us seriously if we do that for a number. We could do Itsy Bitsy Spider then and show them that we're not a serious group."
"I think I have to agree with Jesse", William said and smiled apologetically in Wes' direction. "We wouldn't be taken serious if we did Lion King."
"Right", Brad said. "Who's for some Lion King?"
Wes, the Everetts, Mitch, Kim, Tom, Julian, Rob and Austin raised their hands. But they were not in majority so the suggestion got voted down. Wes sighed and sat down.
'One day', he thought. 'One day I'll have the Warblers performing Lion King and it will be a success.'
Some more suggestions came but then Kim's phone started ringing and he blushed.
"Sorry!" he exclaimed and hurried over to his bag to turn it off.
"Wait", Austin said and Kim looked at him. "Kim what is that song?"
"Öh it's called the… öh… well in Swedish it's called The Wild One but there is an English version called The Wilderness Mistress."
"New plan and stroke of genius", Austin said and got up. "Kim could sing this one to start us of and then Philip and Jesse could do a more upbeat number like… like…"
"Mambo Number 5!" Mitch exclaimed and they all looked at him with big eyes and he blushed. "Sorry."
"No", Brad said. "That is a really good idea Mitch and Austin. Anyone against?"
No one said a word.
"Decided", Brad said and blew the whistle slightly and Wes glared at him. Brad winked at him. "We have our set list so let's rehearse."
Wes was standing behind Kim about two weeks later and Kim was shaking. Wes was not going to sit in the audience this time. This time he'd be standing in the wings and watching his brothers perform. For some reason Vocal Adrenaline was back and had made it to regionals. Brad and the other two on the council were very confused about it because in the letter they got it was said they were up against Rhythm Explosion and a group called the Golden Goblets. But the Golden Goblets hadn't arrived and instead Vocal Adrenaline was there. Kim and Wes watched them perform.
"Jävla robotar", Kim growled and Wes looked at him in confusion.
"What was that", he asked.
"A Swedish sweardoom and a Swedish words for robots."
"Robots?"
"Look at their movinings… they have no soul, just robotic moving and perfect sunging…"
Wes knew Kim's bad grammar and odd words came because he was nervous so he didn't complain because that would only make things worse.
"Well their better than Rhythm Explosion", Wes said and shuddered. "They couldn't even sing so how did they get here?"
"Maybe McKinley bribbed the judges last contest", Kim answered. Rhythm Explosion had been horrible and the Warblers had all wondered how they could've won in their sectionals. They decided not to think about it because that lead them thinking on how horrible the other choirs must've been. Kim and Wes did applaud slightly when Vocal Adrenaline were done.
"Okay Warblers gather round", Brad called and they did. "Okay now let's go out there and do our best and let us beat Vocal Adrenaline again."
"Yeah", Kim said. "Let's show where the cupboard should stand."
The Warblers stared at him in confusion.
"Pardon me", Julian said in confusion.
"Swedish saying", Kim grumbled. "It kinda means: let's show them who's wearing the trousers…"
"It means to show who's in charge", Lucas asked and Kim nodded. "Well I'm with Kim. Let us show them where the cupboard should stand."
"And remember", Brad said with a smile. "Once a Warbler…"
"Always a Warbler!" everyone else cheered and they heard the emcee speak.
"And now for the last number this evening", he said. "From Dalton Academy in Westerville, the Warblers!"
Wes grinned and hugged Kim and Philip before they went out on stage he looked at Jesse but the guy just snorted at him, he did not want a hug so Wes shrugged and waited for the number to start. The boys lined up and started making sounds for the intro and Kim stepped forward and started singing, with some backup vocals from Philip:
Winter has tucked in the village
And blankets the stables
Young hearts warm up in the tavern
There's food on the tables
He and his Wilderness Mistress
Are dancing like mist inside a waterfall
Glowing with pride in the darkness
Kiss in the mist inside a waterfall
A wagon rolls into the moonlight
And snowdrifts along a winding road stand tall
Hoofbeats still clatter around the hills
Carefree and wistful as a waterfall
Night snow has left a new blanket
Erasing their traces
Bravely they wander together
With spring in their faces
He and his wilderness mistress
Are dancing like mist inside a waterfall
Glowing with pride in the darkness
Kiss in the mist inside a waterfal
The audience cheered and Kim took a bow before moving back into formation. The boys turned their backs to the audience and then some started to snap their fingers while the basses made deep sounds that sounded really cool. The other boys also did those kind of words. They started dancing along to the beat and then Philip turned around and started to walk slowly towards the center front stage. As he did he started singing. (Philip, Jesse, both, All)
One, two , three four, five
Everybody in the car so come on let's ride
To the liqueur-store around the corner,
The boys say they want some gin and juice
But I really don't wanna
Jesse had turned around halway through the verse and hurried up to Philip and leaned on him.
Beerbust like I had last week
I must stay deep 'cause talk is a cheap
I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita – Jesse counted on his fingers and all boys had turned around now and were dancing in beat to the music.
And as I continue you know they're gettin' sweeter
So what can I do I really beg you my Lord
To me flirtin' it's just like a sport
Anything fly it's all good let me dump it
Please set in the trumpet
A little bit of Monica in my life
A little bit of Erica by my side
A little bit of Rita is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Sandra in the sun
A little bit of Mary all night long
A little bit of Jessica here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man
Jump up and down and move it all around
Shake your head to the sound put your hand on the ground
Take one step left and one step right
One to the front and one to the side
Clap your hands once and clap your hands twice
And if it looks like this then you doin' it right
As they sang this part the Warblers did what the two was singing and they all grinned. The audience were cheering for them loudly.
A little bit of Monica in my life
A little bit of Erica by my side
A little bit of Rita is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Sandra in the sun
A little bit of Mary all night long
A little bit of Jessica here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man
A little bit of Michael in my life – Michael raised his hand.
A little bit of Eric E. by my side – Eric Everett did a dance step.
A little bit of Roger is all I need – Roger made a dance move.
A little bit of Tommy is what I see – Tom Bedford made a no-hands cartwheel.
A little bit of Julian in the sun – Philip and Julian did body rolls at the same time.
A little bit of Malcolm all night long – Jesse and Malcolm smacked their hands together, Jesse down and Malcolm up.
A little bit of Joseph here I am – Joseph pulled on the collar-flaps of his blazer and smirked at the audience.
A little bit of you makes me your man – Jesse and Philip pointed at each other.
Ha, ha, ha – The number ended and Jesse and Philip leaned on each other.
By now the audience were going crazy, especially the girls. Wes was cheering loudly from the audience and Justin and Mitch hurried over and grabbed his hands and pulled him out on the stage. The audience cheered and all boys took a bow. As always the people wondered who the short Asian was that had appeared last year. But no one cared, they just guessed he was the brother of some Warbler.
"Got a good feeling about this", Jesse called.
"Could you have been more wrong", Julian asked Jesse as they walked out of the theater. They'd come in last, last! How was that even possible?! The McKinley people were horrible, just utterly horrible!
"Homophobes is the reason", Mitch said sadly. "The judges took the last chorus as we presenting the gay guys of our choir and they disliked it… this is Ohio after all."
"Screw that", Otto said. He was giving Wes a piggy-back ride. "What I wanna know is why Vocal Adrenaline were there again!"
"They found out the winners of the third group had used steroids and professional singers", Jesse said smirking. "They sent a spy there and he told the VA that and also the board of directors. The Goblets are banned from competition for at least 5 years."
"That's wrong", Wes said and scowled.
"What is?"
"Both."
"Huh?"
"Cheating like the Goblets did but what the VA did was also wrong."
"Oh come on, they outed cheaters, why's that bad?"
"No that's good but their methods were bad. I mean… sending someone into a group and the group starts trusting them and like them a lot, become friends and maybe even something more an then they just backstab… that's not okay, it's beyond wrong."
"Eh don't be so touchy Wesley", Jesse said and Wes glared at him.
"My name is not Wesley!"
"Fine… Shrimp."
"Jesse knock that off", Lucas said sharply. "Don't you have anything better to do than heckling Wes?"
Jesse just glared at him and stalked off. Lucas rolled his eyes.
"That guy will be problem in the future if he doesn't change his attitude", Austin grumbled and Wes smiled at him.
"We'll fix him", Justin spoke up. "With force if necessary."
"I love you better when Justine is out", Tom said and then dodged the hand aimed at his head.
The rest of the school year went by in a flash. The Warblers had some performances around the school and the various sport teams continued to be triumphant. The Warblers had watched Wes win a title in martial arts and they all got a small shock two days before graduation when Austin was found in the Warbler hall, staring at a brown package in front of him. He looked almost sick.
"Austin are you okay", Brad asked him as he and Joseph hurried up to their council fellow.
"It's from the publisher", Austin whispered.
"What publisher", Jesse asked.
"My books got sent into a publisher by Mr. Hackett", Austin said without looking up. "This package came back… I'm afraid to open it."
"Need some help", Joseph asked and Austin nodded. Everyone gathered around and Joseph opened the package and got out five books. Austin paled even more and Joseph smiled and turned them around. He showed the titles and underneath each title was the name:
Austin Diaz.
Everyone cheered loudly for Austin and he was so pale he looked as if he would faint. He gut hugs from everyone and kisses from some. They continued to congratulate him for a few hours and they took turns reading parts of his books aloud. Austin smiled slightly at them and gave comments and answers on questions. Then Brad broke the mood by blowing in the whistle. Everyone turned to him and he sighed sadly.
"Let's talk about the upcoming graduation now", he said. "We have a few boys leaving us this year as well. I'm one of them."
"You can't leave", Nathan yelled getting up and glaring at Brad who was sitting behind the council table as usual.
"It's not his fault Nathan", Austin said and tried to calm the sophomore down a bit.
"We can't stay forever", Philip said. "This year it's our turn to leave. But it's not like we'll be gone forever."
"Exactly", Brad said and stood up. "Remember our saying boys. Once a Warbler…"
"Always a Warbler", the rest of the boys said half-heartedly. Brad smiled.
"So", he said. "Does our seniors want to tell the rest of the group where they are headed? Peter."
Peter Philips rose and pushed his brown hair out of his blue eyes.
"I am going to Northwestern to study journalism", he said and smiled. "I got my acceptance letters two days ago." The Warblers cheered for him.
"Michael", Brad said and looked around the room for the Greek-looking bespectacled boy. Michael was sitting on the piano stool and now smiled.
"I'm gonna study music at Northwestern", he said with a soft smile.
"Dorm with me!" Peter yelled. "I demand it!" Everyone laughed and Michael agreed.
"Philip", Brad called and the lead singer, who was holding on tightly to Wes, making the younger teen sit on his lap sighed heavily.
"I got into Julliard", he said and his brown eyes was soft. His brown hair got ruffled by the boys around him and Wes hugged him tightly, with a big smile on his face.
"I'll go next", Charles volunteered and ran a hand through his brown hair, but he averted his brown eyes from everyone, afraid he's start crying. "I'm gonna study architecture at Princeton."
The Warblers cheered for him and Wes walked up to him and gave him a tight hug. Charles hugged him back and the boys around him joined in on the hug.
"I'll go now", Ethan Hughes said. He was standing behind his brother Joseph and ruffled the guy's brown hair. He himself was blonde and had green eyes, just like his little, but taller, brother. "I'm gonna do medicine at UCLA."
"Calling Doctor Hughes!" someone called and everyone laughed. Ethan was a bit of their private doctor. Brad smiled and shook his head so his dark hair would get out of his blue eyes.
"I am gonna study politics at Princeton", he said.
"You are not rooming with me", Charles spoke up. "I've heard the stories Sullivan!"
"Hey I'm not that bad!" Brad objected, his ivory skin tainted pink and everyone laughed. "You should see me second-cousin Nick's room. He's two years younger than Wes but his room always looks like a room of a seven year old!"
"Lucas what are you gonna do", Wes asked and tried not to have his voice shake.
"I'm going to study to become a high school teacher at NYU", Lucas said calmly.
"Haven't you had enough of school yet?!" Nathan yelled. "Oh poor bastard."
"Just imagine the kids he'll educate", Otto teased. "Poor bastards."
Everyone laughed but the room was still sad. The only time during the school year that the Warblers would not smile without it seeming forced… graduation times.
"I'll dismiss the meeting now", Brad said. "But before I do so Kim had something to propose."
Kim bit his lip and got up.
"In Sweden we have a tradition", he began. "Around June 24th we celebrate something called midsummer."
"I've heard of that", Roger piped up. "It sounds really fun."
"Well dad is not gonna be home for it this year so I'll be all alone", Kim said and looked a bit nervous. "Which is why I want to ask the Warblers to show up at my place on June 23rd and celebrate the Warblers first ever annual midsummer party. Seniors from earlier years will also be welcomed."
"That sounds fun", Michael said with a grin. "Let's do it!"
Everyone agreed and Kim looked happy and sat down. Wes looked at Brad and saw him fingering the whistle.
"Decided", Brad said. "And now the last point of order for this school year… a new chairman." Everyone looked at him in anticipation and Brad got up and smiled.
"After short consideration I realized there was only one person suited for the job", he said. "Therefore I suggest Austin Diaz as chairman."
"Wait what", Austin asked looking up from where he was writing notes and everyone cheered. "Me?!"
"Who else?"
"But… but… but…"
"Austin for chairman!" Mitch called and everyone started calling the same… except for Jesse. Austin stared at Brad.
"What ya say Austin", Brad asked and smiled. "Ready to take the lead?"
Austin just nodded mutely and everyone cheered and the last Warbler meeting of the school year came to a close.
Two days later Wes and Lucas were in Wes' room just hanging out before Lucas would have to go and get ready for graduation. They were sitting on Wes' bed, hugging and going over some of their memories together. Wes was talking about the green slushie incident when Lucas spaced out and started thinking of other things… namely his first meeting with the little kid.
Flashback
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. "Ifyou 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.
…
"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."
End flashback
"Are you even listening to me", Wes asked and Lucas jumped, not realizing he'd spaced out.
"What", he asked and Wes rolled his eyes.
"Typical", he said. "I was thanking you for all your help these two years and you don't even listen to me!"
"Sorry Shorty… I was travelling down memory lane."
Wes glared at him for the use of that nickname, but it was only half-hearted and Lucas knew that. He pulled the boy closer.
"So any ideas for what you're doing this summer other than going to Kim's?" Lucas asked.
"Asian Camp again most likely", Wes said with a shrug. "It'll be fun because I can meet with Mike and Tina again."
"That's good… I'll miss you ya know."
"I know", Wes said and got out of the hug. "But if you miss me too much you can always look at this…" He hurried up to his wardrobe and got something out.
"It's a graduation gift", Wes said and turned the drawing to Lucas. Lucas stared at it. It was a graphite drawing of The picture was of himself in the library, with Wes beside him. Lucas was helping him with homework. He looked up at Wes that was blushing.
"I made this for you as a graduation gift", the boy mumbled and Lucas got up and took the drawing from him. He put it on the desk and pulled Wes close to him in a tight hug.
"I am gonna miss you so much Shorty", he said.
"I'm gonna miss you too Beanpole", Wes sniffled and hugged Lucas back.
Wes and the other Warblers watched their friends get their diplomas and Carmichael holding a speech to all graduates… and Lucas doing it too because he was Valedictorian. But then Brad was allowed the mike and Wes smirked because he saw that the chain hanging around his neck was empty, the older boy hadn't noticed that when Wes hugged him before he left to go prepare for the ceremony Wes had also managed to unhook the whistle. He'd hid it in the perfect place this time... he hoped because Brad was better at finding it than Jerry ever was.
Austin would be allowed to find something else to gain everyone's attention… as long as it wasn't a blow-horn Wes could live with it.
"My favorite role at this school has been working as the chairman of the wonderful Dalton Academy Warblers", Brad said and the audience cheered. "Stand up boys… and Roger make sure that everyone can see our littlest member will you?"
Roger winked and as the Warblers stood up to receive their praise Roger and Otto hoisted Wes onto the back of the chair he had been sitting in and they held in him so that he wouldn't fall. The boys of Dalton laughed at the shocked look on the small boy and then they cheered when he grinned and waved. Parents and family members of the graduates all got curious as to what that tiny boy was doing that.
But Carmichael had made all students of Dalton promise to keep quiet about Wes' situation, he added the fact that Wes' life would be in danger if they spoke too much about him. That motivated everyone to keep quiet. Wes grinned at Brad and Brad smiled back, but not liking the glow in Wes' eyes, something was up.
"I am as an ending my time here I have one last thing to do", Brad said. "Giving the new chairman the token of leadership, use it well." Austin smiled shyly and brad beckoned him towards the stage. Everyone cheered as Austin got up on the stage and both boys hugged tightly.
"The whistle is yours now", Brad said and moved the chain from his neck and put it around Austin's. "Please keep it away from Wes."
Austin laughed and looked down at his chest.
"That will be harder than I thought", he said and held up the empty chain. "He's already one step ahead of me."
The room erupted in laughter and Brad stared at the chain and then turned his burning gaze towards the Warblers. They were laughing hysterically, but Wes had disappeared from view. Otto and Roger had let him down from his perch so he could easily hide. Brad sighed and took the mike:
"Wesley just you wait until I can get my hands on you!" he barked and everyone laughed again. Carmichael walked up to the two Warblers and gave both of them a hug.
"Now", he said. "The boys in the Warblers wish to send the seniors off with a song."
The Warblers all went onstage, Wes hiding in the crowd, partly to escape Brad and partly for waiting for his 'entrance'. The seniors sat down in their seats while Austin joined his friends. The Dalton orchestra was going to help out this time. Philip took a step forward and started singing. (Warblers, Jesse, Wes)
And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn twenty five
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year, we won't be coming back
No more hanging out 'cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now 'cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love
But it came too soon
And there was me and you
And then we got real blue
Stay at home talking on the telephone with me
We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels
Otto and Nathan grabbed hold of Wes' arms and hoisted him up and over Jesse and when he took ground he sang his part.
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends forever
So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school
Still be trying to break every single rule?
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends forever
The Warblers were doing their normal kind of dancing and the seniors nearly cried.
La, la, la, la
Yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la
We will still be friends forever
Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow(somehow)?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends forever
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be…
Friends forever
The crowd cheered and the seniors got to their feet applauding and smiling brighter than anyone. The Warblers bowed and Wes winked at Brad and then looked at his belt. Brad followed his gaze and growled. Wes had strapped the whistle to his belt buckle somehow. Wes won the battle this year too. But hopefully Austin would win next year. It could not stand 2-0 to Wes! That was unacceptable!
Later that evening, after many tearful goodbyes Wes was alone in the Dragon ones more. He'd talked to the seniors from last year and told them about the ceremony… and how Austin managed to get the whistle back when hugging Wes goodbye until midsummer. Austin was much sneaker than Brad and Jerry had ever been. Wes didn't notice him take it until Austin was about to get into his brother's car. He'd called out to Wes and held up the whistle. Next school year would be the hardest battle yet. But he knew Austin was only doing this to tease him and to keep the battle going, because Austin hated the whistle too. Wes got his sketchbook and smiled. Lucas had written in it, along with the rest of the seniors.
Wes when you read this we've all left or are leaving Dalton. We just wanted to say you good luck, keep an eye on those idiots and keeps us posted. Just because we're not there 24/7 doesn't mean we don't want to know what's going on. Take care and we'll see you again someday.
All the seniors had written down their e-mail addresses and signed the goodbye message. Wes closed the pad and looked out at the grey sky. It was about to start raining. He sighed and started singing:
Come along
Will there be sunshine shinin'
Will we find a silver linin'
Come along
Sing a song
When today becomes tomorrow
We'll we find joy or sorrow
Sing a song
Is it wrong
To put all our hopes together
And wish for something better?
Is it wrong?
To belong?
To face the future with another
Who means more than any other
Is to belong
We'll paint the gray clouds
With pretty rainbow hues
And we'll brush the gloom away
And save it for a rainy day
Rainy day, oh today
If troubles cast a shadow
And shadows make the sun afraid to stay
But it's okay
'Cause there'll be sunshine shinin'
And we'll find a silver linin'
Another day
Tomorrow is another day
How I hope you'll always stay
Tomorrow is another day
Ones again some of his brothers had left him, but he knew that when autumn came around new brothers would be added to the ranks and a new era would begin. Wes smiled. Tomorrow was another day.
TBC If you got a feeling of déjà vu then it's my fault. I coppied some stuff from the year before ;) Un purpose though!
Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:
Guest - Yeah I got a bit lazy and I love the way Trixie dominates so that's gonna happen every birthday I'm afraid ;) Until Wes forbids them from doing it in freshmen year.