Part 83

Wes was smiling softly as he watched the snow slowly sail down to the ground. Dalton was being all wrapped up in what looked like a big white, fluffy blanket. Wes loved it and he started reflecting on his Christmases. The first ones he'd had in his life had not been Christmases at all. He was locked up in his room to not bother the family. He got the Christmas food too but it was always cold. He never got any gifts. Never any hugs and never got to have any fun. But one Christmas he found a book in the library about martial arts and he started practicing. No one would know because no one would come see him after all. He smiled to himself as he remembered his first "outfit". He'd managed to "borrow" his half-brother's old white pajamas and a belt from a bath robe. He chuckled to himself as he imagined that.

But then he was sent away and things got even worse. Now he was mocked by the kids at Christmas because he had no home nor a family. But the worst part was that no grownup saw him. No one hugged him or told him things would work out fine. He never got any gifts or hugs or a warm smile even. Nothing… not even a Merry Christmas. It wasn't until he came to Dalton that all that changed. Everything changed. Wes had gone through so many emotions that first year that it was a wonder he managed to make any sense of it at all. He sighed a content sigh as he thought back to his and Jerry's Christmas Escapade. He smiled and then everything turned white, cold and wet. He heard laughter and shook his head to rid his face and hair of the snow.

"Wes come play!" the Everetts called… the culprits. Wes smirked and bent down. He made a snowball.

"Uh oh", Eric said.

"Everybody", Brett called.

"RUN!" they screamed together and Wes went after them and the other boys. It wasn't only Warblers. It was basically boys from all the dorms and soon it turned into a fight between the dorms. Carmichael watched from the window in his quarters and smiled. He loved seeing his boys having fun and every boy at this school was his. He was a father away from home for them and he was going to stay that way for as many years as he could.

Wes was drying his wet hair with a towel and smiled at David who was pouting at him. David was still not allowed outside. His pneumonia had been gone for a few weeks but he was going to be coughing for at least one more month. The doctor had also advised against going out in the snow. Which had David in a foul mood because he loved playing in the snow with friends and family. Now he wouldn't be allowed to do that until January! And he wasn't even allowed to sing at the Christmas Concert! How could he? After just a line he would break down coughing! Life he decided was not fair. Not fair at all. But he wasn't the only one having trouble… there was a knock on the door.

"Wes are you there?"

It was Blaine's voice and it caused an amazing reaction. David had to fight the urge to laugh as Wes jumped and looked around for a hiding place. He jumped into the wardrobe and closed the door. Just as Blaine opened the door and entered the room.

"Oh hi Davi", Blaine said and smiled. "Have you seen Wes? I need to ask him something."

"Is it about the concert?" David asked and looked at him.

"Yes", Blaine said and closed the door behind him and sat on Wes' bed. David sighed.

"Blaine you really should leave Wes alone", he said. "The decision was final ages ago and you know that he and the council is right."

"But they're not!" Blaine objected. "They-"

"Have experience on their side", David interjected. "I know for a fact that Wes thinks you are really talented but you have some growing to do if you want to be lead singer material."

"Like what?"

"Um… being humble and", David looked up and noticed Wes in the door of the wardrobe. Wes had a notepad and a pen, David had no idea where he got it from, but Wes was writing note. He held it up and David smiled.

"And he told me that you need to understand that the Warblers are a unity. Not a chance for the lead singer to show off."

"But that only holds us back", Blaine objected. "We need to let loose on stage and not be so organized. It's like the military!"

"You don't see it do you?" David asked in awe.

"See what?"

"That answers my question. And I think that when you know the answer yourself… you'll understand why Wes is telling you no."

Blaine huffed and got up. David heard him grumble about not having to sit here and take this before he left. When Blaine left Wes came out of his hiding place. David grinned widely.

"I always knew you were in the closet!" he said and laughed. Wes rolled his eyes but was smiling fondly.

"Well I'm out now", he said. David grinned and turned back to his laptop. He hurriedly got onto the Warblers' forum on the school.

"What are you doing", Wes asked suspiciously. David just grinned and Wes saw him start typing. "Oh no…" His phone beeped and he took it out and paled. On the forum David had written:

"Wes Montgomery is out of the closet." His phone started beeping like crazy. Wes sighed and then glared at David who was beaming happily.

"Why do you do this to me?" Wes groaned.

"Because you're making my life miserable by being a mother hen", David replied happily.

"Miserable?! How am I making your life miserable?!"

"By not letting me do anything."

"The doctor said-"

"And I don't care. So if you're going to make my life miserable I'll return the favor."

Wes only growled and then his phone went off with texts and a call came through. Wes groaned when he saw that it was Nathan.

"I'll get you for this", he growled at David, took his jacket and left the dorm. David smiled happily. He needed to have some fun too and after all… Wes had been mean to him before his change where he kicked the Everetts butts for making him sick. David still didn't know what made Wes change like that but he was happy it happened.

"For the hundredth time Nathan", Wes groaned into his phone as he walked through Dalton. "I'm not gay. You should know this. You, Otto, Mitch, Justine, Austin and Bastian! Heck even Isaac knows it's not true! I'm not gay. David is just trying to make my life miserable. No he's not bullying me he is getting even. No I didn't out him, who do you take me for? Jesse?"

Wes had to smile as Nathan started backpedaling at once. He only listened with half interest as the older boy tried to make sure Wes understood that he did not think that Wes was anything like Jesse. But Wes was actually thinking about it. He started listing the characteristics of Jesse. Jesse was driven, ambitious, talented, self-centered, good at seeing what would work or not, strong, agile, a good singer, a great dancer and he put his heart into things. Wes could deduct that he was more alike than he'd like to admit.

"On the other hand", he told Nathan. "Calling me Jesse wouldn't be too far off would it?"

"What?" Nathan asked not believing his ears.

"I mean his ambitious, driven, ambitious, talented, good at seeing what would work or not, strong, agile, a good singer, a great dancer and he put his heart into things… I do that too."

"Yeah but baby you forget that Jesse is also a self-centered jerk. He doesn't have any compassion. He's a liar and a bully. He is also loves hurting people. Wes the guy is a psychopath and you're nothing like him!"

Wes smiled.

"You're right", he said. "What was I thinking?"

"You were overthinking again. Stop overthink and just think baby. Now about this gay-"

"Bye Nathan", Wes said and hung up on him. He smiled. Nathan was right. He was just overthinking stuff. But he also came to a conclusion. Jesse was known for leading people on. Wes was not going to do that. So with determination he set course for the Warbler Hall, where he knew Blaine would be.

Blaine was sitting by the piano, playing and singing. Wes smiled. Blaine had a great voice but he wanted too much. He took power down from his toes and up so he could sing louder. Wes grimaced. It was louder but not better. He sighed and walked up to Blaine.

"Don't exaggerate Blaine", he said and Blaine turned and looked at him. "The way you doing it now is more shouting than actual singing." He sat beside Blaine. "It's a Christmas song, it needs to be soft and gentle like the holiday itself."

Wes started playing the song and sang it. Blaine watched and listened. Wes sang strong but gently at the same time. Blaine looked down at the piano keys as Wes played on.

"Blaine I know you think I'm not being fair and that I don't know what I'm talking about when not having you as the lead soloists", Wes said as he kept playing. Blaine joined him in playing, taking a harmony.

"I'm good Wes", he said.

"I know you are", Wes said. "But you have some growing to do and I don't mean physically."

"Then what do you mean?"

"Blaine you have a very big ego", Wes explained. "You have to reel it in a little. The Warblers isn't about me, it isn't about you, it isn't about Kim or Collin it's about everyone. An a cappella choir is a unity. We all have our certain places and our certain weight to carry. You are trying to take on too much to make yourself stand out. It's nothing wrong with standing out or being original… but you try too hard which makes everyone else look out of place and ruin the performance. We follow the sheet music strictly because we have to, to make it look good. It's hard to just improvise in a 'normal' choir. But doing it in a cappella is nearly impossible. Believe me, I know. Everyone in this group is very talented but at different things an in different ways. But the way you are acting makes you scream out to the world that you don't care about anyone's talent except your own."

"That's not true!" Blaine objected.

"But what do you think everyone else feel like when you constantly try to outshine everyone else? Do you remember the last pep rally when you were singing with Oliver?"

"Yes."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing really, I just busted a few dance moves!"

"Exactly, dance movies that Oliver had no way in copying because a: he had no idea you were going to do it and b: he had no chance of ever doing them."

"Of course he does. I'm sure with some practice-"

"Blaine, you know about his leg."

"Of course I do but shouldn't he challenge himself?"

"He has and he knows his limits, but you left him hanging. Everyone turned to him to see what he would do."

"He didn't do anything."

"Because he couldn't. Didn't you notice how upset he was? What you did?"

"I didn't… I didn't… I didn't think-"

"That's just it Blaine", Wes said gently and looked at him. "You must use your head a little less and your heart a little more. This isn't all about you and it's not all about Collin or Kim. It's about us. And until you figure that out I can't let you become lead soloist. You're not mature enough."

"I am too!" Blaine said and slammed on the piano keys, they hadn't stopped playing. Blaine stared at his hands and then Wes. "I just proved your point didn't I?"

Wes nodded, got up and left. Blaine was left alone to think.

Wes watched the boys leave one by one. Logan and Alexander both hugged him tightly and wished him a great time at Dalton. Wes hugged them back before they left. David and Thad both hugged him too and Wes had to smile when he noticed the way David snuck glances at Thad when the smaller boy wasn't looking. Wes waved them off and then turned to Blaine.

"Aren't you going?" he asked. Blaine shrugged. They hadn't spoken since that day by the piano. Wes had tried but Blaine never replied. Wes thought that Blaine had taken what he had said to heart because he had "behaved" during the concert and hadn't tried to stick out like he usually did. Wes looked at him.

"Look Blaine I'm not going to apologize for what I said, you know as well as I do that it's the truth", he said with a sigh at the end.

"I know", Blaine said.

"So why haven't you spoken to me?"

"Because I was… embarrassed."

"About what?"

Blaine looked down at his feet and bit his lip. He was about to answer when the doors were thrown open and a tall young man entered.

"Baby I'm home", he yelled and Blaine's face turned very red. Wes looked between them in confusion and realized who the guy was. He'd seen pictures of him in Blaine's room. It was his older brother Cooper Anderson. After just two minutes near the guy Wes suddenly understood everything. He understood why Blaine always tried to take so much space, be so loud, be the best… and being a pain in the ass. He was trying to take after his big brother and be better than him. After two minutes with the guy Wes felt like punching him. Cooper was outgoing, nothing wrong with that but he was too outgoing. He was loud and thought of himself as god's gift to mankind. At least he acted like it. And he kept nagging on Blaine. About his hair, about his clothes, about how he sang and how he hadn't become lead singer yet.

"Had I been in the choir I'd been it by now for sure", Cooper said and gave his most dashing grin in Wes' direction. But to Cooper's surprise… nothing happened. Wes looked at him with indifference. Wes looked Cooper up and down and said:

"Not likely."

"Aw come on", Cooper said. "What do you know anyway?"

"I'm on the council, I decide who's lead singer and you don't got what it takes to lead in a choir like this one."

"What do you mean?"

"The Warblers is about being a unity", Wes explained calmly. "The lead singer is the person that brings everything together, something I doubt you can handle."

"Excuse me?!"

"You're loud, too outgoing and I feel like I want to punch you. That' not lead singer material. Now if you excuse me…" he gave Blaine a hug. "I need to make sure none of the freshmen are left alone good day."

Blaine grinned when Wes walked away. The older boy had managed to do something no one else had ever done. He'd rendered Cooper speechless. Maybe there really was such a thing as Christmas miracles?

TBC

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

wesandwarblers - Thavid won't come until BBW. Blaine is still young ;)

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Jenny (chapter 13) - It is said very clearly that Justine is a transgender.

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