Part 48

Justine, Austin and Joseph were walking from their class, heading towards the cafeteria. They talked about graduation and what they planned on doing after. Justine happily told the boys she was walking between of her plans to become a famous designer. She held her arms hooked to the boys' and they smiled at her enthusiasm.

"And I am gonna give you a call Joseph when I need models", she said matter-of-factly and Austin smiled.

"What about me Just", he asked.

"Oh you are my man so you will already know when I need models and will be coming", she answered. "Joe won't so I need to call him."

"I can't be a model", Joseph said and wrinkled his nose. "I'm not near vain enough."

"Wanna bet", Austin asked. "Ow!" Justine had elbowed him.

"Which is why I want you", she then told Joseph. "I need down-to-Earth models. If I wanted someone vain I'd ask Jesse." Joseph made sure to watch Austin's reaction. Austin smirked happily. Joseph just shook his head and then the three of them stopped. Because they heard a crash.

"What the", Austin asked and Joseph ran ahead of them and turned the corner and saw Wes sit on the ground, books and papers all around him and rubbing his arm. He was sitting by some of the lockers that the none-boarders used.

"Wes what happened", Joseph asked and the younger boy startled before looking up.

"Uh", he said. "I um tripped…"

"You tripped", Joseph asked, not believing him.

"Yeah…"

"Looks more like a shove to me", Joseph said and held his hand out. "Come on."

Wes sighed and took his hand and was pulled to his feet. He looked at his books and papers and groaned. He bent down and started picking them up.

"What is all this", Joseph asked as he started to help him, just as Austin and Justine came around the corner.

"Nothing", Wes mumbled and got up, taking the papers Joseph handed him. "Just some school work."

Justine bent down and picked up a paper and cocked an eyebrow.

"Darling", she said. "This is sheet music, I didn't know you were taking a music class."

"I'm not", Wes mumbled and blushed. "I'm just… um working on something."

"Song arrangements", Austin asked as he looked over the sheet music. He knew all about that after all.

"Maybe", Wes mumbled and held out his hand for it. Austin smiled and handed it to him and then ruffled his hair. Wes smiled shyly before hurrying off. The three seniors continued towards the cafeteria and on their way met a few freshmen… all of them having one thing in common. They looked scared, sat on the floor or were leaning on the wall. The three seniors were confused but there was nothing they could do because any freshman they asked just hurried off or said that it was nothing. Austin narrowed his eyes, something fishy was going on here.

The Warblers jumped when Austin blew the whistle. They all stopped talking and turned to him, Wes glaring daggers at him. Austin put the whistle in the chest pocket of his blazer and looked through his papers.

"Carmichael approached me today", he said. "Every January you know that the middle school kids come to visit Dalton, in case they want to start here or at Crawford County Day come fall. He asked me if the Warblers would like to perform in the auditorium. Do we?"

"It would be a great rehearsal for our regionals", Isaac pointed out.

"But we can't all take part", Roger pointed out and Matt and Wes nodded. "The three of us have to take a seminar about student politics that day. The whole student council does."

"Okay so Roger, Matt and Wes are out", Otto wrote on his paper. "As am I since the fencing team is showing off."

A few other boys told the council they were not available. But still it was enough to do an acceptable number. They went through songs they could do and settled with two songs, Jesse would lead them all, against Austin's liking. But he was voted down, but he kept a straight face and decided to power through it, as always. They talked about that upcoming 'recruitment' day and after a bit Joseph and Austin shared a look. Joseph nodded and Austin called for quiet. He was ignored and took out the whistle and blew in it again. The boys jumped and turned to him.

"Now that I have your attention", he said calmly. "We need to become serious."

"Aren't you always serious Austin", Jesse said with a smirk.

"Rather serious than an ass", Austin said in a nonchalant way and Jesse gaped at him. "Back to the matter at hand. Joseph and I have a question for the freshmen."

Howard, Logan, Oliver, Collin, Peter Pan, Juan and Alexander all looked confused.

"Earlier today Justine, Austin and I were walking to the cafeteria when we met a few freshmen", Joseph said. "All of them were either on the floor or getting up. They were all jumpy and appeared as if they had been pushed, shoved or hurt in any other way. Is there something going on in the freshman grade?"

The freshmen looked at each other and all shook their heads.

"Boys", Austin said and got up. "If something is happening you have to tell us so we can get rid of whoever is bullying you."

"No one is bullying us", Oliver said.

"Pushing you around then."

"No."

"Boys I'm serious. We've all seen you and a few other freshmen appear with bruises and you all write them off as accidents."

"They are accidents!" Collin yelled. "We're on sports teams and we collide in the corridor, slip on floors and the stairs. It is accidents Austin."

"Collin I am not stupid, occasional accidents I can understand, but every week?"

"Just because you're older than us doesn't mean you have to treat us as punks!" Howard yelled.

"Excuse me?" Austin was confused.

"Mind your own damned business Austin", Logan spat.

"Guys that just proves to me that something is going on."

"Nothing is going on", Peter yelled and marched up to Austin and pushed him. He was much taller than Austin. "Get it through your thick skull. Just leave us alone!"

Austin was staring in confusion, as was everyone else. The freshmen got up and left. Jesse snorted and followed them, but stopped by Austin.

"Looks like you're not as wanted as you thought chaiman", he said and knocked his shoulder against Austin's and the other boy slightly staggered back… and tripped on someone's foot and went down.

"Austin?!" a few boys exclaimed in shock and Jesse left. Austin looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"What just happened", he asked.

"I think babe", Justine said and helped him up. "That you are on to something... other than the floor." The other boys agreed and made up a plan… to keep a watching eye over their little freshmen. But none of them noticed Wes slink off, intending to telling the freshmen what the older boys were planning.

A few days later the 'promotion' day was in session and the whole school was full of people. Just after lunch Wes was finally finished with that seminar and he intended to just walk around the school and pretend to be an interested student. He was not in uniform to keep the charade up. Everyone that knew him understood. It would make it easier for him to fit in the next year if no one knew he already was a Dalton student.

He watched the fencing team demonstrate their skills and waved a little at Otto before hurrying off. He'd taken a map and was looking over the activities. He was so absorbed in his studying that he didn't notice Jesse until this roughly pushed him aside and he hit the wall with a small bang. Wes looked up and Jesse just snorted and walked off. Wes got up slowly. He had to figure out a way to know when Jesse was approaching. As he sat there he heard Jesse's footsteps as he walked off. They had a certain sound to them.

"Wait a minute", Wes said and got up. "That's it! If I start to recognize people's footsteps I'll be able to tell who is approaching me!"

"You know the first sign of someone going crazy is them talking to themselves", a voice said behind him and he jumped. He heard a happy laughter and turned around and saw Olivia.

"Olive!" he said happily and gave her a hug and a soft kiss. "What are you doing here?"

"My mum was going to visit her friend here in Westerville, the one you met and she dragged me with her. But I got bored and decided to go visit Dalton instead. When I got here some loghead gives me a map and asks me if I will apply for Crawford this fall and told me. All I can say about that is: no no no no no no."

Wes laughed and put his arm around her waist and they started to walk down the hallways.

"So what is going on here", Olivia asked and looked around.

"Recruiting day", Wes explained. "Dalton and Crawford are trying to get students to apply for next year. Everyone is up and about."

"But you're not because you want to fit in next year."

"I love that you know me so well darling", Wes said and kissed her.

"Get your big, fat, ugly lips off of my man!" an angry voice shouted and the two looked up and Wes groaned.

"What do you want Becca?" he asked. The girl stormed up to them and pushed Olivia away from Wes. She then turned to Olivia and gave her a bitch glare.

"Keep your hands off of my boyfriend!" she hissed.

"Excuse me", Wes asked and pulled his arm out of Becca's hold. "But I am not your boyfriend. I broke up with you remember?"

"Temporarily confusion on your part", Becca said and smiled at him and tried to take his hand.

"Uh no", Wes said and moved out of her reach. "You are the one that's got a few screws loose."

"I'm your first love", Becca said. "You will always love me."

"My first love was actually a chocolate cupcake", Wes said with a straight face. "You are just a slight slipup in my judgement."

"Wes!"

"What", Wes asked dryly.

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"I can talk to you any way I want when you are saying insulting things to my girlfriend." By girlfriend he took Olivia's hand and pulled her close to his side. "Weren't you dating that annoying guy last I saw you?"

"He broke up with me…"

"God I wonder why", Wes said and Olivia laughed.

"Stop laughing and get off of my boyfriend!" Becca yelled at her.

"Now you listen here you little bitch", Olivia said and stalked up to Becca. "I don't know what planet you are from but here on planet Earth you are no longer together when you break up with your partner. When you break up it also means that you have no claim over the person you broke up with so you can't come and tell me to get my lips off of my boyfriend's because you have no right or say in it."

"He's my boyfriend!"

"No", Wes and Olivia said together.

"Is there a problem here", one of the members of the campus security said and walked up to them. He'd heard the screaming.

"Yes", Wes said and looked at the man, who instantly recognized him. "This girl Becca is harassing me and my girlfriend. Marcus, can you please have her removed from here?"

"Which one is Becca then?"

"She is!" Becca yelled and pointed at Olivia. Wes rolled his eyes and pulled Olivia close to him.

"Right", Marcus said and firmly gripped Becca by the arm and lead her away, against her objections. Wes shook his head and Olivia snorted.

"Do you want to go out tonight", Wes asked out of the blue and Olivia cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Excuse me", she said.

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight", Wes asked again. "I promise I'll behave."

She kissed his cheek gently.

"Of course", she said. "I'll see you around here at 7?"

"Cool, meet me at the entrance hall?"

"Yes", she said and then her phone beeped. "Ugh my mum wants me back, see you at 7?"

"Yeah", Wes said and kissed her cheek gently. "I'll see you then."

Olivia left and Wes did the same, none of them knew they had been watched. Justine stepped out from the corner she'd been hiding around and she had a plotting smile on her lips. She got her phone out and dialed a number.

"Hi baby we got work to do", she said and walked off, swaying her hips in a way that had a few middle school boys drool over her. She winked at them and she was sure one was about to faint. Just before she turned the corner she turned around to face them and they were all staring at her in awe and completely love-struck. Justine blew them a kiss before she left.

Wes was working on some homework when his door was actually thrown open and a whirlwind known as Justine stormed into his room and walked straight up to his closet. After her came Mitch and Otthan, although more slowly. Wes watched as Justine started throwing things out of his closet while muttering:

"No… no, defiantly no… maybe, no, no, no…"

"Uh what is she doing", Wes asked and noticed the bag Mitch had just put on his desk. "Scratch that, what are you doing?"

"Well someone", Mitch said and threw a look in Justine's direction. "Overheard you asking Olivia out on a date."

"Ew defiantly no", they heard Justine say somewhere behind them.

"So we are here to help you get ready", Mitch continued.

"And why are you here", Wes asked and looked at Nathan.

"To laugh at your misery", Nathan said happily. "Having Justine and Mitch get you ready is torture."

"And you", Wes asked and turned to Otto.

"To make sure they don't go too crazy", Otto answered calmly and Wes rolled his eyes and got up.

"I don't need any help", he said. "I already know what to wear, where to go and what to say so out."

"No", Mitch said and grinned. "You didn't let us do this when dating the Bitch so we are going to do it now that you are dating Olivia."

"Exactly", Justine said. "Mitch get starting with his hair, he's starting to look like an outlaw with that long and ruffled look."

"Hey!" Wes objected but got no chance to objected before he was seated on a chair with a towel around his shoulders. Who knew Mitch was that strong? "Aw come on leave my hair alone!"

"Nope", Mitch said happily as he started to comb. "You need a new haircut."

"Why?"

"Because you look like a ruffian."

"But what if I like looking like a ruffian?"

"You do not", Justine said and pointed at him with a hanger. She had a tape measure around her neck and a seam ripper in her other hand.

"Justine", Wes asked as Mitch started to comb his hair. "What are you doing with that seam ripper?"

"Don't you worry darling", she said happily and disappeared behind the door. "I have everything under control."

Wes heard a strange ripping sound and tried to get up… but couldn't. Unbeknownst to him Nathan and Otto had gaffer taped him to the chair. He had tape around his chest, stomach, legs and wrists. He stared in confusion.

"Let me go!" he said.

"Nope", Nathan said and twirled the tape roll on his finger. "Mitch promised me something I can't deny."

"Don't ask", Otto said before Wes could. "My mind is forever tainted."

Mitch just looked smug and started working on Wes' hair.

"Relax sweetie", he said. "When I'm done you won't look as much as Jerry, seriously next time I see him I will tackle him to the ground and get rid of that ugly Beatles haircut he's sporting."

"I can't really see that happening", Otto said.

"Oh trust me", Nathan said happily. "Mitch' legs are strong and talented."

"Too much information!" everyone yelled at him. Wes sighed and let Mitch do his work and he had no choice but to let Justine do hers… even though it was freaking him out. It only got worse when she pulled out a scissor and then sent Otto to her dorm to get her sewing machine. Wes whined and felt miserable. Nathan was having the time of his life. Wes groaned when Otto brought the sewing machine and he also noticed a bag with textile paints.

"I'm starting to freak out here", he said.

"Don't you worry", Mitch said as he worked on Wes' hair. "I'm soon done hair and you can go shower."

"You said hair on purpose…"

"Of course I did."

Wes groaned again but let them do their work, soon Mitch was done and helped freeing Wes from the tape. Otto tied a scarf over Wes' eyes and took his hand. Nathan took the other and they lead Wes out of the room and towards the common showers.

"Ow!" Wes exclaimed when they lead him into a wall. "If you are going to blindfold me at least guide me a bit better will ya?"

"Where's the fun in oops!" Nathan began but then Wes nearly tumbled down the stairs and he and Otto had to save his neck.

"Guys!" Wes yelled.

"Sorry we didn't count on the stairs", Otto said happily and gripped Wes' arm and held his hand. Nathan copied on the other side. "One step, one more…" Wes groaned but did as they said… three more times nearly resulted in him dying. But soon, after bumping into some stuff, did they finally reach the common showers and Wes stepped inside, taking off the blindfold. At least he'd survived.

Wes was frankly a bit disturbed that Justine had gone through his underwear but he had no choice. Outside the boys and Justine were waiting for him to come out.

"What exactly did you do to his clothes", Nathan asked curiously.

"Improved them", she said happily.

"You think he'll like his new haircut", Mitch asked a bit worriedly.

"You did it so of course", Nathan said and kissed his cheek. "We all love it when you go barbershop on us."

"Why won't anyone ever let me do it", Justine asked.

"Because we don't trust you", Wes called through the door. Everyone else laughed but Mitch hugged Justine.

"I do", he said happily. "I only trust you to touch my hair."

Justine smiled happily and gave him a big hug. Nathan and Otto laughed and no one noticed that Wes had actually opened the door.

"Justine", he said sharply and they looked at him. Mitch, Nathan and Otto gaped.

"Yes darling", she said happily.

"What did you do to my jeans?" he asked.

"Made them skintight", she said happily.

That's not all she had done. Justine had ripped the seams on his jeans and had turned them from normal jeans into skintight jeans. She had also painted a dragon, medieval style on the right thigh and it continued down past the knee. She'd added some rivets also to the waist and some minor details that made the jeans look even better. She had taken one of his white button ups and rolled up the sleeves and stitched them there so he couldn't role the sleeves down. She had also taken one of his jackets and made a vest out of it by removing the sleeves. Wes didn't know it but on the sides of it and the back she had done some nice details. The sleeves from the jacket she had used, with some other material, to make a fedora for him with a band colored in the same shade of green as the dragon on his leg. He also had a pair of half-finger gloves that she had taken from his wardrobe and just cut the fingers off. But Wes was still barefoot.

"Oh right I forgot about shoes", Justine said and hurried up to Wes' room and some came back with a nice pair of black shoes and a pair of black socks. "There you go, perfection!"

Wes gave her a tired look. Mitch, Otto and Nathan gaped in amazement. They knew Justine was good but this was… was amazing. Even for her! Wes looked at her again after putting on his stuff.

"And why did you think it necessary to do this to my clothes", he asked.

"Because you had nothing that looked good enough for your first date with Olivia", she said happily. "Now let me take a peek at that hair." She lifted the hat and smiled. "Mitch you have outdone yourself!"

"What", Mitch asked confused. "It was just a normal cut."

"Aw but it's a perfect Wes-cut!"

"Leave me alone and go bother someone else", Wes said in annoyance and walked past them. Justine put the hat on his head as he walked by. "I'll be late."

Wes grinned when he saw Olivia standing in the light of a streetlamp. She wore a coat since it was the ending of January and he wore one too. He hurried up to her and they shared a soft kiss before heading off to the restaurant where Wes had booked a table for them. On the way Wes told her about the trial against the woman that shot Ma Trixie.

Wes hadn't been allowed to go, Ma had forbidden it. But the senior Warblers went. They told the other boys what went down. The woman shooting Ma was a known junkie that was late with payment for her dealer. She like everyone else knew that the Bean pulled in a lot of money each day so she had decided to rob it. When she realized there was no money in the morning she had been so desperate and angry that she shot Trixie. The woman confessed the crime but agreed to give the law the name of her dealer and how to get in contact with him if she got an easier sentence. The judge liked that idea so the woman was sent to two months in prison and then rehab until she was clean. She would also pay Ma Trixie some money for the damage she caused.

Ma was happy with it, the Warblers not so much. But none of them would hunt her down and kill her, why? They were all too gentlemanly to do that. But Justine had no problem tripping the woman by mistake and when helping her up give her a warning that pretty much told the woman that if she ever came close to Ma again Justine would take care of her herself. Now Justine said this with a sweet voice and the junkie was horrified because you a: never mess with Justine and b: Justine when angry is freaking scary.

"Oh dear", Olivia said and laughed just as the main course was served. "You sure have interesting friends."

"I do, how about you?"

"Well I haven't been living in Lima that long but I have a few friends. But I have also noticed some strange people around."

"Oh? Like who?"

"Well there is this boy that I know is gay but he still tries to tell himself otherwise. He is a good mechanic though. There are three girls that aim to be cheerleaders and they are all somewhat bitchy. There's this guy that calls himself Puck for some reason. Oh and then there's the big-mouthed girl that tells everyone she meets she is going to be a Broadway star, the next Barbara and she is also very annoying."

"You got to Lima Middle School right?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know Mike Chang or Tina Cohen-Chang?"

"I've seen them around I think, quiet Asian kids?"

"Yeah."

"Just seen them around. He hangs out with the boys and she hangs out with a diva-girl and a boy in a wheelchair. She is also a bit of a Goth, nothing wrong there. Why?"

"I know them from Asian Camp, we talk once in a while."

She smiled and they continued to talk and just get to know each other even more. They had a lot in common and also had a few things… not so in common. The worst thing according to Wes was that Olivia had never listened to Stevie Wonder. When Wes heard that he stared at her in shock.

"What", he asked.

"I know who he is and all but I've never really listened to his music you know", she answered.

"For your birthday I will buy you a Stevie Wonder CD", Wes told her and the subject was dropped. They stayed for a bit longer at the restaurant before Wes walked Olivia home, well home to her mother's friend. When they got there they could see Olivia's mom and her friend spying on them from a window.

"Let's give them something to spy on", Wes teased and pulled Olivia close and kissed her. Olivia smiled into it and kissed him back. The door opened.

"Okay sonny get your paws off", Olivia's mother said sternly. Wes just gave her a dashing smile before kissing Olivia's cheek and hurrying off into the night. It had been a really good day… even though he ran into Becca the Bitch and Hurricane Justine. Oh and he had managed to snag that damn whistle from Austin... now where to hide it?

TBC Someone asked me to write the whole trial but I've only been to one trial in my whole life and I am pretty sure that the trials in Sweden is not done in the same way they are in America and I've never been to a robber, shooting trial so this was the best I could give you :S Sorry.

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