Part 78
The air in the warehouse was foul. It reeked of blood, sweat, vomit, dirt and even alcohol and urine. Wes peaked out from underneath the rim of his black hood. He was wearing a black hoodie and a pair of black sweatpants and light shoes. He would never go here willingly, but he had no choice but to be here tonight. He wasn't supposed to be here… it was after curfew and what he was doing was illegal in this type of building. It wasn't private… it was owned by to city. Which, if the police ever found out, would make all these boys go to juvie or jail. Wes bumped into someone and the response he got was:
"You and me pal."
But Wes knew the boy. He went to Westerville High and he practiced Tae Kwando. Wes had taken him no sweat each time. Wes turned to him and gave him a dark look. The boy looked at him and paled slightly.
"On the other hand", he said. "Never mind just… just sorry for bumping into you."
"No forgive me, it was my fault", Wes replied and then heard cheering. He looked in that direction and saw his little Blainey fight against another guy, much bigger than him.
"Excuse me", Wes said and walked in that direction. He had to push his way through the crowd so that he would get there. Wes had no idea where all these people came from and had no idea so many people felt like they needed a fight club to make it through the day. Wes knew that he would be hated for what he was about to do. But this was the wrong way to cope with things. He'd lived too much trauma and gotten the right kind of help to see the reason of this thing. Wes had his phone in his pocket. He watched as Blaine decked the guy and the crowd cheered.
"Honestly what's the reason for all this testosterone? They aren't even wearing any fashionable outfits."
He had to smile. He could just picture Justine saying that. He watched as the big guy was dragged out of the ring that seemed to be the arena. Blaine disappeared in the crowd and Wes groaned. He'd missed his shot to get through to Blaine. There were two new fighters fighting now. Wes moved back, melted into the crowd and decided to look around for Blaine and David.
Blaine and David were sitting on a pair of old barrels. Talking happily and evaluating their latest fights. David had a busted lip and Blaine had a forming black eye.
"You're still a bit slow on your left", Blaine told David. "We need to work more on that or people will use that to their advantage and you won't win anything."
"Yeah I know", David said. "I'm just recovering from a infected muscle in my left side so my movements aren't as fast or as strong as they used to be."
"It shows, so you have to be extra careful when people go for your left."
"And you have to be careful too", David said. "You need to work on your patience."
"What do you mean?"
"People push your buttons easily and you explode. When you explode you act rash and aggressive and they can fool you. Like Rocketfist did just now. He ticked you off and you acted on it. It gave him the chance to give you that black eye because your guard was down."
"Huh… I've never thought of that…"
"Well that's why it's good the two of us are a team", David said and grinned.
"Yeah, we're a good team", Blaine replied and grinned as well. "Not like the Warblers."
"What do you mean", David asked in confusion.
"Come on, a all powerful leader that can ban you from auditioning or ban something. Member talking about how we are all brothers and a group but then we get a lot of crap because we haven't befriended Jaq-Jaq?"
"Yeah I mean… we are new to the school too", David agreed. "Why should Jaq-Jaq get special treatment?"
"What was Wes going on about?"
"Something about Jaq-Jaq being forced to drink something he was allergic to and there was no one there to defend him."
"It's not true right?"
"I don't know, you've been to public school. Could it happen?"
"Probably not, I mean everyone at my school knew what people were allergic to. Besides Wes doesn't know if Jaq-Jaq has had someone protecting him or not. He probably didn't need it."
"What do you mean?"
"Look at the guy Davi", Blaine said. "We call him Jaq-Jaq because his small and quiet like a mouse. He can probably become invisible and easily sneak around the school if he wanted to."
"And even more in his old school because they probably had a lot more students there."
"Exactly!"
"Hi I've found a fight club in an old warehouse downtown", a deep voice said and both boys jumped. They turned and saw a guy dressed in black from top to toe and with a black hood pulled up to hide his face. He had his back to them and didn't even seem to know they were there.
"Give me that phone!" Blaine yelled and jumped at the guy. The guy dodged the hit sent at him. David tried to take a swing at him as well but the guy was too quick for him as well. But now he held his phone in his hand and both boys could see it was turned off.
"You", Blaine began.
"It's the call I'm gonna make as soon as I get out of here", the guy said darkly.
"No you won't!" David growled.
"Yes I will."
"We won't let you", Blaine said.
"Well the only way that is gonna happen is if you kill me. And I doubt that you would want murder on your conscience."
"We could get it to man slaughter", David threatened. He knew it was an empty threat, but maybe this guy would back down and leave if he got scared enough.
"No you wouldn't. You'd have motive and a way of killing me, aiming for it so it would be murder."
"But there's no witnesses", Blaine said. He knew where David was going with this. "Everyone is over there and I will protect David and he'll protect me."
"Why? You barley know each other."
"We're classmates and friends… and we're in the club together. We'll do anything to protect the club and its members… its brothers."
"And you don't think that's what the chairman of your choir is trying to do? Protecting the group from harm?"
"What?"
"Tell you what, let's make a deal", the guy walked over to the arena.
"What kind of deal", Blaine asked suspiciously. But the guy didn't answer. "Hey!" Still no answer. Blaine and David ran after him over to the "arena". The arena was where they would fight and right now there were lots of people there. A fight must be going on. Blaine and David pushed their way through the ring of people. Quite easily actually. It was easy because Blaine and David were the arrangers and everybody knew it. They got so close that they could watch but what they saw wasn't what they expected.
That black clad guy was not the one fighting in the middle. It was a guy that was called Razorfists because he always had such sharp nails. The other called himself Viper because he was fast and agile. This was a rivalry fight. The two would fight all the time when they got here. There were no real names used in the club so no one knew what their problem was with each other. Well some had to know because they probably went to school with them; but if they knew they didn't tell. Blaine was nicknamed the Arranger and David was known as the Righthandman. They called him that because he was the Arrangers right hand man but also because he was strongest on his right side… well at the moment. David called himself Puncher and Blaine called himself the Cassowary.
"Yo Bull", Blaine asked and tapped a big guy on the shoulder. "Have you seen a black clad dork around here?"
"No", Bull said. "But Grasshopper seemed a bit extra jumpy today."
"He's a grasshopper they're always jumpy" a guy joked and laughed.
"No I mean extra jumpy, scared."
"Scared of what?" David asked.
"Don't know Right."
"It's Puncher."
"No it's not."
David rolled his eyes and turned back to scan the crowd. The fight didn't interest him at the moment. He wanted to find that guy so that he could let his fists do the talking for a bit. He heard cheers as one of the fighters went down but he didn't care who it was because he saw him. Opposite him and Blaine he saw a black clad guy disappear into the crowd.
"Cassowary", David said and nodded and Blaine looked in that direction. He didn't see anyone.
"You sure?" he asked and David nodded.
"Who's up next", someone suddenly asked and Blaine realized the fight was over. He cleared his throat and was about to step into the ring to tell everyone about their problem when the black clad guy walked into the ring.
"Oooh a new face", someone cheered.
"I'm here to challenge your so called Arranger and Righthandman", the guy said. "They get to fight me one or one and if I beat both of them… I can go and I'll call the cops."
A gasp went through the crowd.
"You can't do that!" someone yelled.
"I can and will", the guy said. "Either if I win or if you refuse."
All eyes turned to Blaine and David and Blaine smirked. This was their territory. He cracked his knuckles and his neck.
"Challenge accepted", he said and his fight club friends cheered. Everyone but Grasshopper. Blaine took his shirt off and walked into the ring.
"The rules are simple", David said. "There are no rules."
"Take your shirt off or you might get killed", Bull called to the guy opposite Blaine. The guy smiled and did as he was told. Underneath the hoodie his torso was bare. But that's not what threw Blaine's concentration off for a little bit. He could now see who it was. It was Wes.
"What?" he asked.
"The name is Inland Taipan", Wes said calmly and he cracked his neck. "I took my name after the world's deadliest snake. And you will feel that now kid."
"Oh please what can you do?" Blaine said.
"Since there's no rules… anything."
"Arranger you can't fight him", Grasshopper called. "The guy is national champion in Tae Kwando and karate!"
There was a gasp through the crowd and Blaine gulped. But he got prepared. He decided that maybe he could scare Wes off. So he started to hit and kick in the air. Showing Wes what he really could do with his fists, how fast they were and how hard he could hit. David and the others cheered for him. They praised him, egging him on. Blaine smirked as Wes just walked around him. Then Blaine ran at him, prepared to punch… and then he was on the floor. Knocked out by a swift kick. He looked up at the roof, his world was spinning. A hand was reached out to him and Blaine took it. He got pulled to his feet but then his world spun as Wes somehow spun him over his arm.
"Just for good measure", Wes said calmly and turned around. The boys around him all gasped in fear and backed up. "I guess I win?" Everyone nodded. "Everyone but the arrangers has two minutes to get out of here before I call the cops."
The words had just left his mouth when everyone but David and Blaine scattered. Wes turned to the two freshmen and gave them a murdering glare.
"Get your things", he said. "We're going back to Dalton."
"But", David began.
"Now!" Wes yelled and both younger boys scrambled to their things and ran to the door.
When they got back to Dalton Wes brought the two of them to the Warbler Hall where the rest of the Warblers were waiting for them. Rock and Fred were sitting in a pair of chairs. The duo was looking confused and they looked even more so when Wes entered with David and Blaine… the freshmen looking badly beaten.
"Wes what happened", Kim asked in horror when he saw them.
"Later", Wes said and turned to David and Blaine. "Sit."
Both freshmen sat in the empty chairs by Rock and Fred. Wes looked at the four and sighed.
"Look", he said. "I know that being new to this place is scary. We've all been there. We all know it. But you four have each other and the rest of the Warblers to turn to whenever you need something. It can be help with homework, or just someone to talk to. You might get a case of homesickness and it's all understandable. We've been there, all of us."
He knew that Rob, Isaac, Kim and the Everetts were looking at him in an different light. They knew he lied. Wes didn't get homesick at Dalton… because he didn't have a home. Wes felt bad that he hadn't told Howard, Logan, Oliver, Collin, Peter, Juan or Alexander the truth and he was going to. Just not right now. He noticed the freshmen share a look.
"Why are you telling us this?" David asked.
"Because you don't seem to understand it David", Wes said angrily. "You and Blaine think that the best way to handle your problems are punching each other and others until they get bloody."
"Well you won't listen to me because you're too busy with the new kid!"
Wes sighed and sat down on a chair and rubbed his face. The older boys all groaned as well. Some even cursed. Wes was so happy Charles weren't there because it would kill him. This reminded Wes and everyone that had heard the story about how Charles and the other juniors had been so jealous at Wes that they risked their friendship with him… pushed him away. Well most of them, not all. But this was worse because David and the others didn't know Thad and were still jealous.
"David green is not your color", Logan said calmly.
"Pardon?" David asked.
"Jealousy isn't very tasteful", Logan continued.
"I'm not jealous!"
"Then why is your face all green?"
"It's not!"
"David the kid has no one but Wes and slowly us older guys", Rob said calmly. "But he needs friends in his own grade. Why don't any of you want to befriend him?"
"Because… because…"
"Because we don't know him like at all", Blaine said.
"You haven't tried!" the Everetts said angrily.
"Don't rush us please!"
There was a loud bang as Wes used the gavel. They all turned to look at him. His eyes were dark with anger and his face red from it.
"Don't rush you?" Wes asked. "Don't rush you?! Do you have any idea of what you are putting him through?!"
"It's not our fault the new ki-"
"His name is Thad!" Wes yelled furiously. "He has a name, use it! Thad came to Dalton… to save his life. But you don't want to see that some come here to escape hell. Don't even start Blaine I know what you've been through but it's not as bad! You told me yourself that although your parents don't understand you they love you and see your needs. Thad's parents didn't! They just told him to get a grip basically! Things weren't bad in their eyes. They were horrible! Don't you four judge someone for something that's not their fault! If I hear that he gets nasty looks or trouble from any freshman I will take this problem to the principal's office and he'll decide if this is bullying or not!"
The freshmen paled.
"B-but we haven't done anything", Rock said.
"Exactly! Ignoring someone the way you four have is bordering to bullying. You act as if he doesn't exist! But he does. He's very real and if you want to be a Warbler you have to be prepared to do some sacrifices… and fill a sort of quota."
The older boys grinned. They'd been looking for an opportunity to do this.
"Excuse me", Fred asked and Wes turned his back to them.
"Boys!" he called and the older Warblers all got up and started to make sounds by playing on various furniture. The Everetts rubbed their shoes on the carpets for example. That caused an interesting sound. Wes rolled his shoulders and sang:
So you wanna be a Warbler
In the golden ring
Can you sing like an amazing angel
Tell me just one thing
He walked up to the freshmen and gave them judging glares.
Can you move in a whirl like a humming bird's wing
If you need to
Logan: ooh that's fast!
Wes: Can you pop, can you dance can you snap your fingers when you need to?
Well, you might as well quit
Wes shrugged and walked away.
If you haven't got it
So you wanna be a Warbler
Can you pass the test?
I can tell if you got it in you
I've seen the best
Wes sat on the council table with the Everetts.
When you work and you try
And you bet that you train for a slaver (Everetts: Zing!)
Then you near lose your mind
When you find that I don't stand an offender
All: So you might as well quit
If you haven't got it.
Warblers: Put them up to the test, Wes
Look at what we found
We can use the fun, Wes
Showing them around
Rob: We'll show them the ways
Isaac: Both straight boys and gays
The Warblers laughed at that, even the freshmen.
Warblers: Put them to the test, Wes
Help them find some friends
Let them try to fit in, Wes
We can give them sense
Juan: We'll see to it they beam
Collin: Then they'll be on the team
Warblers: for sure, Wes
Wes smiled as the older Warblers all moved close to the freshmen. He noticed David look confuse, Fred amused, Rock understanding and Blaine… trying to figure out what they meant.
Wes: So you wanna be a Warbler
Wanna be the champ
Is there a golden boy inside you
Not a punched-out tramp
All: If you listen and you learn
There's an honor you can earn and defend here
When you do see the crown
You're a king not a clown
A contender
Warblers: But you might as well quit
If you haven't got it
Put them to the test, Wes
Something new to see
Let us have a go, Wes
Then "them" will be "we"
Howard: We'll make it quite swift
Oliver: Then they'll get the drift
Warblers: Put them to the test, Wes
Chicken a la carte
Let us have a chance, Wes
Help him with the art
Alexander: We will forget this mess
Rob: Let us have them Wes
Fred and Rock cheered after the number. David still looked confused and Blaine as well. Wes sighed.
"Look", he told the duo. "The Warblers are more than a glee club. We're friends, brothers even and we look after each other and others. Students are supposed to be able to come to the Warblers for help and support. Lost souls like Thad who doesn't have anyone… even if you don't anyone you should still have the Warblers. So if you four don't feel like you can handle that…" he pointed. "There's the door."
"You'd kick us out", Rock asked.
"With your head first. So… how's it gonna be?"
The freshmen looked at each other, then Wes, then the other Warblers… and lastly they made up their minds. They decided. To be Warblers.
TBC Song not mine, just rearranged the lyrics a little.
Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:
wesandwarblers - He's just not used to not being center of attention I think. And yeah it doesn't make any sense since Wes said something like: "Junior member Anderson." And Ma is always Ma. :)
Guest - Uh oh indeed.