Part 92

"I must say my boy that I'm a bit surprised", Carmichael said and looked at Wes. "I thought you liked going to Asian Camp and that you looked forward to being a counselors this year as well."

"I did", Wes said calmly. "And I really do like Asian Camp."

"Then why?"

"After the wedding Malcolm Nolan invited the Warblers of the First Age-"

"The what?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know. Anyway Malcolm Nolan invited the Warblers of the First Age and yours truly to come stay at the Nolan Mansion during the summer. I accepted."

"But my boy we-"

"I know you made arrangements for me to stay here and to send me to Asian Camp again sir. But please… please let me have something that could be referred to as a normal summer with my friends and family." Wes gave him his best puppy eyes. "I promise I will be on my best behavior."

Carmichael laughed and Wes knew that he had him right then and there. Now had Wes been able to look into Carmichael's mind he would know how satisfied the principal was with himself. After all… he had hinted to the Nolans that they should invite everyone over for summer. He wanted to see if Wes would finally try and go against the plans set for him in life. Truth was that Carmichael didn't really like telling Wes what he should do and where he should be all summers until he graduates. Carmichael felt that Wes had already had enough of that in his young life. He'd never really been allowed to decide for himself. Carmichael looked at Wes and smiled gently.

"You have my permission to go", he said.

"Wohoo!" Wes cheered and gave the headmaster a hug before hurrying out of the room. Carmichael chuckled and continued with his last paperwork before his vacation was going to start.

It was the day of the midsummer's party and Wes was going to stay over at Oliver's this time and go with Jerry and Mark to New York. But he suspected Emma would be coming along for the ride. After all… she and Jerry were dating. Wes smiled when he saw the group in front of the front door. He saw five nervous looking boys. Wes chuckled and walked up to them.

"Hello boys", he said and the freshmen Warblers jumped and turned around in fright. "Are you scared to knock?"

"No not at all", David said in annoyance. "Why would we be scared to knock on a door we know will lead us to a room full of strangers?!" Wes chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"Guys I've been there too", he said with a small smile. "I had no idea of what was awaiting behind that closed door. And I was all alone when I arrived. Now I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me or anything. I just want to calm you down. You're all friends and all guys here are old Warblers. They won't be mean or anything. They'll just try to show you a good time. So just relax and ring the doorbell."

The freshmen looked a little skeptical. So Wes chuckled and knocked on the door. It didn't take one second for the door to fly open. And there was Nathan Newland. He was wearing a garland made of birch and with flowers in it. The garland was tied with yellow and blue ribbons, the Swedish colors of course, like always. Nathan grinned widely and wrapped Wes up in a super tight hug. Which made Wes realize Nathan had been waiting by the door all day for him to arrive. Wes smiled and hugged him back. When Nathan let him go he put one of those garlands on Wes' head as well.

"Come on everyone else is 'round back!" Nathan said happily and grabbed Wes' hand and pulled him towards the door leading out in the yard. Wes grinned and looked at the freshmen. They followed in a hurry, afraid to let Wes out of sight. When they walked Wes noticed the Wilkins brothers through the door to the kitchen. They were wearing aprons and were scrubbing something.

"They got stuck scrubbing the new-potatoes again?!" Wes asked and looked at Nathan.

"Yes", Nathan said. "They're either way too slow or they actually like it."

Wes laughed. The younger Warblers just looked confused. Wes smiled when he felt a smaller hand grip his sleeve a little. He didn't have to look to know it was Thad. Wes took the boy's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze instead. With a smile on his lips he walked out into the garden.

Out there he saw his older Warbler brothers milling around. He grinned. The tables were there, the stereo, the people and the May Pole.

"I see Kim wants to keep that thing this year too" Wes remarked with a grin. "They must keep that thing in stock for the rest of the year… watering it so it won't dry up."

Nathan laughed at that and Wes laughed too. Next thing he knew everything got black and he couldn't see. He grinned. He knew what was coming.

"Guess who", a voice said gently.

"Jerry!" Wes cried and flew around and there was Jerry Jonston in all his glory. But Wes' grin died away when he noticed that Jerry was looking like a storm cloud and behind him… was Brad Sullivan and Otto Johnson. Wes looked between the three of them. He realized they hadn't liked the little "Mr. Whistle in memoriam"-card he'd sent them just after graduation. Wes let go of Thad's hand and moved him aside. He prepared himself for a fight. But then changed his mind.

"Fuck it", he said and ran for it. "See you guys later!"

The trio of former Warbler chairmen stared in confusion at the spot where Wes had just been. Then they got over the shock and took chase. The freshmen watched in confusion as their leader ran around the grounds. Kim walked up to them and smiled, while watching Wes run around. He was running like crazy, diving under tables and moving around people but the other three saw that coming. So this year they didn't collapse or crash into furniture or people. They were getting closer and closer.

"They do this every year", Kim explained to the freshmen. "You see for years the Warbler chairman didn't have a gavel. Instead he had a small whistle. Wes hated it and made it his life's mission to get rid of it. Those three have all been chairmen and Wes have been in contact with them, for advice and such."

"But why are they chasing him?" David asked. "And why doesn't Wes have that whistle?"

"Because when Wes became chairman he", Kim chuckled as Wes dodged Otto's leap… causing the blonde to fly into the pool. "He um… 'retired' the whistle." He put air quotes around retired. Thad gave Kim a strange look.

"He smashed it to pieces with the gavel didn't he?" he asked and Kim nodded with a big grin.

In the meantime Wes kept running but Jerry and Brad were gaining on him. Otto was trying to catch up as well. But then Wes ran into something that felt like a brick wall. It was Mark Connors, who else?

"Hey no more running", he told Wes and the three pursuers hurried up to them, huffing and puffing. Mark gave all three of them a look.

"When will you three realize that you can't catch him without my help?" Mark asked. Wes grinned.

"Don't ruin it for them", he said and Mark looked at him. "They need the exercise in their old age."

"I'll give you for old age!" Jerry yelled and tried to catch him. Wes took off running again. This time with more people. Mostly Warblers from Wes' first year. Wes managed to avoid most of them but all of a sudden he felt pain in his leg and found himself flying forward into the pool. When he got up he looked around and saw a smirking Bastian Nolan grin at him from his wheelchair.

"See", Bastian said and looked up at his brother. "This is what happens when you tell me to use my wheelchair."

Malcolm Nolan just shook his head in affection and held his hand out to a stunned looking Wes.

"Sorry squirt", Malcolm said with a small smile as he held a hand out to Wes. "I shouldn't have joked about how he could get you because you wouldn't dare harm a guy in a wheelchair."

Wes blinked.

"True", he said and gripped Malcolm's forearm. "But you're not in a wheelchair." With that Wes pulled him into the pool.

Everyone laughed. The freshmen just stood there looking confused.

"Don't worry darlings", a voice said as a girl appeared beside them. "This is common Warbler behavior. Am I right Emma?"

Another girl appeared.

"Yes", she said and the freshmen noticed she had the same kind of accent like Kim. "They are always this crazy. It's always hard seeing who's graduates and who is still first graders."

"Freshmen."

"Same thing."

A bit later they all sat down by the table and had their food. Wes grinned when Emma sat down between Jerry and Mark. Kim was happily explaining to the freshmen what everything was and more about the traditions they had in Sweden. Emma looked at Jerry and he kissed her cheek. Wes had Justine opposite him and saw her sigh sadly. Austin and Joseph weren't scheduled to be back until tomorrow and she was missing Austin a lot. The rest of the night went down smoothly. The boys were all spread out over the garden, some where even bathing. Jerry at one point leaned over and tapped Wes' shoulder. Mark sent him a warning glare. It was only Brad, Jerry and Otto that wanted to harm Wes for the execution of the whistle, Mark was protecting Wes. Wes had been running from the trio all afternoon. But now he was safe. Wes was also happy to see the freshmen get along so well with the older Warblers. David, Rock and Fred were talking eagerly with some of the older boys that were former members of the basketball or football team. Mitch, Justine and Isaac had adopted Thad and were talking to and pampering him in the corner. At another tap Wes turned to Jerry.

"What", he asked.

"We leave early tomorrow for New York", Jerry said. "Do you have everything packed?"

"Yes mama", Wes said cheekily.

"I'm not a girl."

"Never said you were. Mark's just manlier than you."

Mark smirked at that and wrapped an arm around Wes. Jerry prepared to jump at Wes but Mark's glare stopped him.

"Jonston", Mark said. "Hurt my baby bird and I'll pluck all your feathers."

Jerry sunk back beside Emma. She laughed and said:

"Whipped."

"I never should've taught you that phrase", Jerry grumbled. Everyone else around just laughed.

TBC Sorry for the very LONG wait but my full-time job takes so much energy for me that I can't find time to write.