Part 91
The months flew by after that. Too fast for Wes' aching heart to handle. The older boys all noticed how depressed he seemed to get. But they understood why. Things had finally hit Wes, like a ton of bricks. The thought had struck. He now realized that he would lose some of the boys he had been closest with since his second year at Dalton. He also realized that next year he would lose the last of his older brothers. It made him feel… empty. It felt like someone was pushing a knife into his chest to cut away yet another piece of his heart. The older boys had noticed this sadness of course and they felt the same. Losing each other and Wes would be hard for the seniors as well. But they had no idea on how to make it better.
But they didn't have to. The next day during the Warbler rehearsals there was a knock on the door. Wes looked up from the sheet music he was going through with Blaine and Thad.
"Come in", he called and in stepped Mr. Dahl, he was the postman that came to the school with mail for the boarders. He had a bunch of envelopes in his hand. He grinned.
"Hello boys", he said. "I have a special delivery for you. And they're from a girl."
"How can you tell", Rock said, being the closest he got the letters handed to him. "Oh I see."
As soon as he got the letters he could smell perfume on them. He had to smile. It was a sweet cherry blossom scent to them. He walked over to the council and handed them the letters. Eric, Wes and Rob only had to look at the handwriting to know who it was from. They all smiled. Wes looked through the envelopes and then looked up.
"Sorry freshmen, nothing for you", he said. Rock, Fred and David whined in protest and the older boys laughed. Wes told the freshmen it was from a person the Warblers knew from last year so the freshmen were told that they could leave if they wanted to. They all left. They didn't want to impose on the older boys. When the freshmen had left everyone else turned to the council.
"Justine's sent us something", Eric said happily and the council started handing out the letters. They all opened them and started reading. They were basically getting the same information.
"You are hereby invited to the wedding of Austin Diaz and Justine Gideon. June 25th. New York City."
"Hang on", Juan said and looked up. "I thought same sex marriages weren't legal in New York."
"They're not", Collin said calmly. "But I guess they aren't mentioning Justin's part of this marriage. I mean… it says Justine Gideon. The government and everyone else that doesn't know the bride and groom will think they're just a man and a woman getting married."
Wes grinned widely.
"Okay we need to perform", he said and got up. Everyone looked at him. "Come on! We have to!"
"Of course we have to", Kim said and smiled. "What should we perform though?"
The Warblers looked at each other. That was a good question. What should they perform? There had to be a song that they could also rope the Warbler alumni into. They all started thinking of numbers they'd done through the years. What could fit? They were all so caught up in their thoughts none of them noticed dinner time come and go.
They were still thinking about it the next day. No one had found the perfect song for the couple yet. It was so hard. If they found a song that suited Justine perfectly it didn't fit Austin. If they found a song that suited Austin it didn't suit Justine. The freshmen noticed the "absence" of the older Warblers when they met in the Warbler Hall. After an hour of silence Fred cleared his throat and looked at the council. Everyone looked at him.
"I don't know what's up", he said. "But um… what are the seniors going to do after they graduate?"
That shook the older Warblers out of their musings. Not even Wes had realized that it was the last meeting of the school year. He cleared his throat.
"Let's talk about the upcoming graduation now", he said. "We have a few boys leaving us this year… like every year."
"I wish we didn't have to", Eric said from his place at the council table. "I wish we could stay forever. But we can't. We must make place for new Warblers."
"Exactly", Rob said and stood up. "Remember our saying boys. Once a Warbler…"
"Always a Warbler", the rest of the boys said half-heartedly. Rob smiled and sat down again.
"So", Wes said calmly. "Does our seniors want to tell the rest of the group where they are headed? Kim."
Kim looked around and got up.
"I love you guys a lot and I love the US", he said. "But there is one thing with this country that makes me jumping mad." They all look confused. "You have to pay to get into college or university and you have to take tests… I can't afford either of that. But in Sweden anyone can apply for university. You can even ask the state for money to study. So I'm going back to Sweden."
Protests started.
"Hey hey hey!" Kim yelled and they all quieted down. "It's just for a few years and I'll be back every holiday. Well not Thanksgiving, I don't celebrate it. But I'll be here for Easter, Christmas and midsummer."
"What's midsummer?" David asked.
"In Sweden we have a tradition", Kim began. "Around June 24th we celebrate something called midsummer. We dance, we eat great food and just have fun together. I want all you Warblers at my house for it. It's on June 19th this year."
"That sounds fun", Rock said with a grin. "Let's do it!"
Everyone agreed and Kim looked happy and sat down. Wes smiled gently at him. He was going to miss the Swede like crazy next year. Then he looked around the room again.
"Isaac what are you gonna do?" he asked and all eyes turned to the poet.
"I'm going with Vladimir to his skating college and I'll study poetry there", he said an blushed slightly. "We want to stick together."
"Awww", the Warblers teased and Isaac flipped them off. Then they all laughed. Isaac grumbled something and crossed his arms. But Thad wrapped his arms around him and nuzzled his shoulder.
"Don't be mad Isaac we'll just miss you", he said and Isaac grinned.
"Golly he's just as bad as Wes", Brett whispered to Eric, standing behind him at the council table.
"Oh yes. Wes is turning him into a clone", Eric replied.
"Ow!" the Everetts then exclaimed when Wes, by 'mistake' hit them with the gavel. Wes looked around innocently and then turned to the twins.
"Oh did you say something?" he said.
"Yes you little", Eric began but Brett cut him short, knowing they had no chance anyway.
"We were just discussing our college plans", he said and sent his brother a look that said: "We'll get revenge later."
Eric told them he was going to study to become a TV-producer. He was going to LA and he was going on a basketball scholarship. Brett was heading to study literature at Harvard. His main focus will be poetry. Isaac grinned widely because it was the same school he was heading to with Vlad. Brett grinned just as wide. At least they wouldn't be alone. Lastly every eye in the room turned to Rob and he smiled gently.
"I'm gonna work at my dad's company for a few years", he explained. "Until I turn 21. Then I'll head off to a police academy as fast as I can."
"You'll be great as a police officer Rob", Wes said and grinned gently at him. "And I'm sure Mark will be happy to help you if you run into trouble."
Hang on. I know what you are thinking. How can Mark already be an aspiring police officer? He started at the police academy directly after graduation. Well my sweets I did write when he was first introduced that Mark had been to juvie twice. He had been there for a few years so he was actually 21 when he graduated. Which makes him the oldest Warbler. You aren't the only ones thinking this. So did Alexander Dumas.
"Hang on", he said and they all looked at him. "Mark went from graduation to the academy… am I missing something?"
Wes sniggered and told him what I just told you. When he was done explaining he looked at the freshmen. They looked confused.
"Don't worry", he said. "You'll meet Mark at the midsummer party. Which brings me to the last note on today's protocol… my two council fellows are graduating. I do not want to be the sovereign, the master of the house, the dictator… so is anyone interested in joining me up here next year?"
There was no sound and Wes gave the Warblers a look. But he wasn't going to force anyone. So after a little bit he shrugged and wrapped up the last Warbler meeting for the school year.
Wes was sitting alone on the roof, his almost private escape from everything. Not many guys dared come up here and that suited him fine. Sometimes he needed to be alone with his thoughts. Like now. He'd lose five of the people that had been closest to him since their arrival at Dalton. He had a special bond with Kim. It had to do with doing what was right first and then they just became great friends. Then there was Rob. Another friendly giant that helped looking after Wes whenever he could. He'd been his biggest support during Mitch's hell weeks. Isaac was special to him too. He saw himself in Isaac and if Isaac could get over his pain and horrors then Wes could do it too. Then there was the Everetts. They'd meant so much to him their four years at Dalton. They were the only ones that really bothered finding him during the first family thanksgiving day at Dalton. They could always cheer him up and they'd along with Otthan had made him and Olivia realize their feelings for one another. They were always there for him when he needed them and could always make him laugh. They'd made the map over Dalton together. Wes always carried it in the inside pocket of his blazer. They weren't the only pranksters at Dalton after all. Wes smiled gently when he felt a person sit down on either side of him. He knew who it was.
"Ah ha!" Eric Everett said with a gentle tone in his voice.
"There you are", Brett Everett said following his brother.
"Wes what are you doing on the roof?"
"It's dangerous."
"You can fall."
"Or get a cold."
"Or pneumonia."
"Or get attacked by crazy birds."
"Or get hit by lightning."
"Or get drowned by rain."
"Or get fried by the sun."
"Or get stung by wasps."
"Or fall through the roof."
"Or get stuck up here."
"Or-"
"I get it", Wes cut in with a small smile, it was just like that time. "It's still dangerous."
The Everetts grinned at him and Wes grinned back. They were identical except for the scar underneath Eric's eye. Both of them had long hair in loose ponytails and both were African-American and they were both dressed in Dalton uniform. But they were different now too. When they got here they couldn't be away from each other but now they could. They were moving far apart from each other after all. Maybe it was opposite with them. Dalton usually brought people closer together but this time Dalton had given someone a little distance from each other. That was good too he figured. But he would miss them a lot. Wes turned to look out over the world, the brothers followed his gaze.
"What are we looking at", Eric asked and gently ruffled Wes' hair.
"The future", Wes said.
"Oh the future this time", Brett said and grinned. "Is it looking up?"
"And sideways and down and around."
"Very funny", Eric said and ruffled Wes' hair again.
"You taught me that."
"Of course we did", Brett said. "We've taught you everything you know."
"Well not everything", Wes said and looked at them. "You two never taught me how to pick up a girl."
The twins laughed and Wes smiled a little. He could always be a part of himself with the twins that he couldn't be with anyone else. Nathan and Otto refused to talk about girls with their baby. But the Everetts had nothing against it. They wanted to be there for their little Wessy. Wes leaned against Brett.
"I…" Wes said and then sighed. "I wanted to say thanks."
"For what", the twins asked.
"For coming looking for me… like you always do. You two were the only ones that really came looking for me during that first family dinner. I know everyone tried to keep track of me but you two were the only ones to come looking… and tried to include me in everything."
"Of course we did-"
"-you're family."
Wes smiled and the twins hugged him.
"Do you remember that song we sang to you at the family dinner?" they asked. Wes nodded. Eric and Brett shared a look and then started to sing:
Whistle down the wind
Let your voices carry
Drown out all the rain
Light a patch of darkness
Treacherous and scary
Howl at the stars
Whisper when you're sleeping
I'll be there to hold you
I'll be there to stop
The chills and all the weeping
Make it clear and strong
So the whole night long
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I will not abandon you my precious friend
So try to stem the tide
Then you'll raise a banner
Send a flare up in the sky
Try to burn a torch
And try to build a bonfire
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I'm there
So whistle down the wind
For I have always been
Right there
Howl at the stars
Whisper when your sleeping
I'll be there to hold you
I'll be there to stop
The chills and all the weeping
Make it clear and strong
So the whole night long
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I will not abandon you my precious friend
So try to stem the tide
Then you'll raise a banner
Send a flare up in the sky
Try to burn a torch
And try to build a bonfire
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I'm there
So whistle down the wind
For I have always been
Right there.
Wes and the other Warblers watched their friends get their diplomas and Carmichael holding a speech to all graduates. Wes and the Warblers were sitting in the front row so that they could get up and perform, like always. But the speech the dorm prefect of the White Tiger was told to held… didn't quite end as expected. Well… at least not for him. After the Everetts graduated there wouldn't be any official prank kings at the school and… what kind of prank kings would they be if they didn't pull one final prank at their main target for the year… their dorm prefect. As Adam was holding the head boy speech the two of them managed to slip away unnoticed. They got underneath the stage and up to where the podium was. They had made a small hole in the podium and now pushed up a tube with helium. Adam took a deep breath to start talking… but when he did the whole room broke down with laughter.
"TWINS!" Adam yelled with his squeaky voice. Carmichael handled all that, with a smile on his face. He'd miss the pranksters as well. He got the prefect off the stage… and the Everetts escorted back onto it. Carmichael then nodded at Wes. Since Wes was going to stay Head Warbler there wasn't going to be a speech this year, instead they were just going to sing. Wes nodded at Blaine and stepped back after presenting the team. The Dalton orchestra was going to help out this time too. Blaine took a step forward and started singing.
Everything has its season
Everything has its time
Show me a reason and I'll soon show you a rhyme
Cats fit on the windowsill
Children fit in the snow
Why do I feel I don't fit in anywhere I go?
The Warblers stood behind him in a long line.
Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
Blaine moved into the line and the juniors stepped forward.
Howard: Every man has his daydreams
Logan: Every man has his goal
Oliver: People like the way dreams have
Of sticking to the soul
Collin: Thunderclouds have their lightning
Peter: Nightingales have their song
Juan & Alex: And don't you see I want my life to be
Something more than long...
All juniors: Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
Wes stepped forward since he was the only sophomore.
So many men seem destined
To settle for something small
But I won't rest until I know I'll have it all
So don't ask where I'm going
Just listen when I'm gone
And far away you'll hear me singing
Softly to the dawn
Freshmen: Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
The crowd cheered and the seniors got to their feet applauding and smiling brighter than anyone. The Warblers bowed and Wes grinned at the Everetts and when the twins took a step forward… they fell on their faces. How Wes had managed to tie their shoelaces together they would never know. But one thing they knew was… that they were gonna miss Dalton and their little partner in crime.
TBC Sorry for the very long wait. But I didn't have time to write until this week. So busy at work now that my lazy ass partner left and made me in charge of everything. Now I have to sort out her messes...