Part 16
"No I must stay in there!" Blaine objected when Carmichael asked the boys in the dorm if Blaine could stay with them. The room was still trashed and it had stayed trashed this time. Carmichael sighed and gave him a tired look.
"Blaine you can't stay in the room when it looks like that", he said.
"I'll clean it up and fix it up", Blaine said. "I'll put cardboard over the windows, I'll vacuum up the glass and small wooden splinters. I'll sweep the floor and mop it. I'll re-paint the walls and put in new floorboards. Sir please let me stay in there!"
Carmichael sighed again and looked at Blaine's begging face. It was Thursday evening and the next day would be a free day at Dalton, it was tradition. Carmichael looked around at all the boys and the boys that stood closest to Blaine looked nearly as begging as he did. He smiled fondly.
"You can't stay there", he began.
"But sir", Blaine objected but kept quiet when Carmichael held his hand up.
"I was going to say that you can' stay in there tonight and most likely not tomorrow. You have to clean, carry out stuff and repaint and put in new floors. You will not be able to sleep in there for two days at least. But we need to find somewhere to put you tonight."
"Let him stay with us", Thad said and grabbed Blaine's hand in a supporting way. "Seb and I don't mind. Right Seb?"
"Right", Sebastian said and smiled. "We'll have a Warbler sleepover to get over the malfunctioning radiators that caused the room to go kaboom when we weren't there… luckily."
"Well then do that, why don't you have a Warbler sleepover in the Warbler Hall?" Carmichael suggested. "It will be more room for you all. But no alcohol."
"Of course", Thad hurriedly said and texted the Warblers not staying in the dorm. After he got affirmatives from them everyone was on their way, after getting their night time attires of course. When they were gone Carmichael walked into the room and looked around. He felt a bit nostalgic going into the room. When he was a student this had also happened but when he showed his teachers and principal the room was back to normal. The room really was a point where past met future and present time. He looked around and said with a sigh:
"Wes I don't know if you are here or if you can even hear me. But I am sorry I abandoned you the way I did. I should've held out and stayed longer. But don't worry I will make sure that the boys solve this mystery. I will make sure that the time skips will stop and I will make sure that you are happy. But I won't be happy unless you forgive me for my wrongs. I really am sorry for abandoning you like that and for saying and shouting all those stuff… and throwing my peace-sign t-shirt with the batik colors on it. I really am sorry for all I did."
He heard a small thud and turned to the side and saw a folded t-shirt with a batik pattern on it and a note. Carmichael walked over and took the note and folded it open.
*You're forgiven*, the note read and Carmichael smiled and looked at the room again.
"Thank you Wes and I am sorry."
It felt like a warm wind suddenly caressed his cheek and he smiled and left the room behind. Finally at peace with his past.
"So what really did happen in your room Blaine", Joseph asked. The word had been spread around the school at a rapid pace. Everyone knew what the room looked like due to pictures taken with phones that had been sent around the school.
"One could say that Wes had a hissy fit", Sebastian said and patted Blaine on the back in a supporting way. "He is also way too stubborn for his own good."
Blaine smiled slightly and holding the note Wes had written close to his chest. He felt the tears getting close to spilling down his cheeks again. He felt as if he had just broken not only his but his boyfriend's heart as well. He froze. Boyfriend? Was Wes his boyfriend? The note said that Wes loved him and Blaine knew that he cared a lot about Wes. Did he love him too?
When Blaine had no one he had been drawn to Wes, ever since he stepped his foot in that room and saw his new roommate. He thought that maybe his heart knew what would become between them. When he didn't know the boy that lived in the same room as him he had done everything to get to know him, to get a response and no matter how scared he was he always returned to room 213. Like when Kurt cheated on him. He ran from Kurt straight to room 213 and didn't fight Wes when he took care of him.
He never fought when Wes took his hand, he never complained when the small touches of affection was given from the Asian. He longed for it actually. He wanted those touches, he wanted the hugs, he wanted that kiss that never happened… he wanted Wes. He looked at the note with that neat and beautiful handwriting that had been written by a strong, compassionate, friendly, loveable, amazing and incredibly beautiful young man. He looked at the note.
*I love you*, was written and he started sobbing again.
"I love you too", he whispered between his sobs and felt two pair of arms around him. He recognized the colognes that Thad and Nick were wearing. He also recognized Thad's way of rubbing his back and Nick's way of leaning his head on Blaine's. Both were ways to comfort. Both were ways that usually worked. But not this time… This time he knew that the only person he needed to be comforted would probably never talk to him again.
Anger. That was all he felt. He loved Blaine but the boy was clearly not feeling the same. He thought he was because they had nearly kissed and he knew that Blaine's face always lit up with a smile when someone just mentioned his name, Wes. Sometimes Wes could see Blaine and the future Warblers but they couldn't see him. But he heard them and saw them tease Blaine about the boy's feelings for him. That's why it hurt so much when the boy shouted at him to leave.
Wes didn't want to leave because leaving Dalton would mean leaving everyone he has ever cared about behind. He loved all the boys he had gotten to know and was happy that the time skip they were sure he was causing had helped Thad escape injury from those bears from Boston. He looked at his paintings of said boys and sighed.
They clearly didn't understand how he felt and he doubted they'd return to that room, after all they didn't want to see him there so he was staying clear of it. He had decided to either sleep in the stables, the art room or his student council room. If he was to die the boys would never know how he felt.
He looked at the white canvas in front of him. The Warblers had asked him to paint their logotype and maybe come up with a motto for them. He remembered something on the wall in the future Warbler hall. It was a drape almost with a circle in the middle and inside that circle was a yellow warbler sitting on a straw of thatch and to the left was a note… a sixteenth note, two actually, beamed together. Wes stopped thinking about Blaine and started painting and he was soon finished. He took a step back and tried to think of a motto for the group. What was that things the Warblers of the future was always saying? He heard Sebastian's voice:
"Once a Warbler always a Warbler right?"
Wes looked at the white and took a brush and put it in the black and wrote with his, as people said, beautiful handwriting:
"Once a Warbler Always a Warbler."
He also added a line in Latin that read:
"Semel Dendroica semper Dendroica."
Maybe he could just write them a letter. He startled. Where did that thought come from? How could he possibly write a letter to the future? Wait the boys talked about his journal. He just had an idea and it made him smirk some sort of half smirk. Yes this would be what was needed.
The days flew by and they worked on getting the room back together. But they were all feeling a bit bad about being in there. They had been there for a week and there had been no sign of Wes… and time was running out. The other boys that had been in the room hadn't wanted to tell Blaine the one thing that might make him hurt even more about the blowup. That they had all heard Wes talk. Like for real. They heard the words come out of his mouth and it didn't hurt.
Carmichael had taken them aside to ask them what happened in the room and they told him. When he had played the song from Kristina Blaine had started crying again. Carmichael had always wondered how Wes could know the songs he did and Blaine had told them all that those were songs on the I-pod Wes had gotten by mistake. Blaine never listened to it anymore, it hurt because he knew Wes had listened to it and loved it and now… he was treating them badly.
"You know I realized something", Jeff said as they were fixing the last of the floorboards.
"What", Hunter asked.
"Wes' handwriting…"
"What about it", Thad asked. He was on Fred's shoulders getting the lamp in place on the roof. The chairs and ladder was being used by Hunter and Sebastian that were painting parts of the roof.
"It's the same handwriting as on the Warblers' flag."
"What?!" Blaine exclaimed and stared at Jeff.
"It's funny", Jeff said. "I didn't realize it until we cleaned out all those loose pages from his notebook and after I stared so long at the one that said: You lie. I mean the letters look the same."
"Fred put me down at once", Thad said and Fred shrugged and did as was ordered and Thad hurried out of the room.
"Where's he off too", Nick asked and they all shrugged. Thad soon returned with a big book in his hands and they saw that it was the book they all had gotten in history class… Dalton's history. He was looking through the pages.
"Ah ha!" he exclaimed and grinned. "I knew his name was familiar!"
"What", Sebastian asked and they all crowded around their little bookworm.
"It says here in the chapter of the Warblers that the Warbler's logo was painted up by Wesley Montgomery and the motto was his doing too."
"Hang on", Fred said. "Wes didn't know what it looked like or heard our motto before he got here, to the future."
"So he stole the idea from here", Nick said.
"And used it in the past", Jeff added.
"So who's idea was it to begin with?"
"Well technically it is Wes'", Thad said. "He thought it up in 1890 and we used it here in 2012, he overheard us using it and that inspired him to make it up in 1890 so that we could use it so that he could overhear and see it."
"Thad you are giving me a headache", Hunter said and rubbed his temples. "Shut up."
"It's not my fault you're all muscles and no brains… ah!" He dodged the rag aimed at his face.
"I have brains", Hunter growled.
"Brain, and it's a tiny one", Thad said and hurriedly left the room.
"What?! Okay that's it! Get back here you little wise-cracker!"
Hunter chased after him and with a laugh the others followed. Blaine was the only one left behind. He sighed and turned… and startled. Wes was sitting on the windowsill. He was looking out the window, looking sad.
"Hi", Blaine said softly, but Wes didn't look at him. "I'll just… leave."
He left and hurried after the others.
A few more days went by and soon they reached March 15. On the morning of that day all the Warblers were nervous. As was Carmichael, but no one felt as bad as Blaine. Blaine had seen Wes in the room a few times but never spoke to him and Wes never looked at him. The Asian was anyway just going in and out, getting stuff for class, sleeping or just having a shower. Blaine didn't know what to say or how to start a conversation. It felt as if he was back at the beginning of the school year when he would speak and Wes couldn't even hear him and Blaine really didn't want that to be how their last day together would be like.
He and the ghost-gang called in sick and stayed in room 213. Trent and Fred were sitting on the floor, holding hands. Niff were snuggled together on the floor as well. Thad and Sebastian were sitting on Blaine's bed, with Blaine. Hunter and David sat on Blaine's desk. They were all watching a movie waiting for Wes to appear. Then there was a knock on the door and Fred went to open. It was Carmichael. Without saying a word he handed Fred an envelope and then left again.
"Whoa", Fred said as he closed the doors. "Uh guys I think Wes just sent us a letter."
"What?!" the others all exclaimed and they all gathered around on the floor in a circle as Fred dropped the letter envelope there. It was kinda thick and looked old.
"To be delivered to room 213 on March 15 2012", Nick read on the envelope. "Wow, Wes really wanted us to have whatever this is…"
No one moved, no one wanted to open it. Blaine decided to be the one to do it, he started all this so he would be the one to finish it. He opened the envelope and took out… nine thinner envelopes. They all had names written on them.
"It's one for us each", Blaine said and handed them out to their owners.
Jeff looked at the envelope in his hand and opened it. Inside was a letter and he took it out and started reading. It was clear it was from Wes and he'd written:
*Dear Jeff
I know that you are probably very angry with me for not leaving this room. But truth is I cannot do that because that would mean that I will spit on everything I've worked for. I have worked for a school where everyone is welcomed and that is what I want my memory to be. So maybe I will meet my end this night but I walk to the end with my head held high. I had never met anyone from Australia before I met you and if all Aussies are as amazing as you are they are one amazing people. If we never meet again I just want you to know one thing. Always take care of Nick because he loves you just as much as you love him. How do I know this? Just because you boys cannot see me all the time does not mean I cannot always see you. I always see you when I am in this room and I hear you. I hear Nick tell the others how much he loves you and I hear you tell the others how much you love Nick. But more than that… I can see it and feel it. You two are meant to be together forever. Farewell and God's speed.
Love Wes.*
And Jeff cried.
Nick noticed his boyfriend crying and took his hand in his while he read through his own letter.
*Dear Nick
I am sure you are trying to figure out why I am writing you all letters. It is because I am not sure if you can hear me speak and I want to say goodbye and explain. I want you to know that I am going to stay to show the world I am not scared, that they cannot treat me and others like me however they want. I want to show them that I am important for once, I want to show them that I can make a stand. My family is gone and if I can I want to make them proud. My father was a soldier and never fled the danger, so neither will I. I'm happy I got to meet you a little bit and know that even though you could not see me I could see you and hear you. After Blaine you were the first person I touched in here and I did it because I saw that you had a good heart and soul. You would believe it was me. I just want to finish by saying that you and Jeff are meant to be. You are soul mates. I can see you married in the future, your future, living in a house and having a few children. How you get them I do not know but you future humans have such strange ideas and inventions that there is no doubt in me that you have a way to get children. Farewell and God's speed.
Love Wes.*
Nick couldn't help but laugh at the last part, but he was also crying slightly.
Sebastian had a lump in his throat as he watched the envelope in his hand. He noticed his boyfriend reading and Sebastian felt a longing for comfort. Before opening his letter he grabbed Thad around the middle and pulled him onto his lap. Thad let him and Sebastian read his letter, resting his chin on Thad's shoulder.
*Dear Sebastian
You are protective like no man I have ever seen before and you even want to protect me a boy that lives 122 years in the past and that you barely know. You have one of the biggest heart I have ever seen and I see that you truly and deeply care about everyone in this group and all of your friends. I thank you for showing that you care for me by trying to get me to leave but I am not going to do so. I am going to stay and face my fate like a man. I am so tired of running, so tired of not being the man that I am, so tired of being afraid. I want to face my fears and this is the only one I have. I do not fear injury or violence but I fear that if I run everything I have worked for at this good school will be lost. I have worked too hard to even the rights and value of its students. If I run it will all be for nothing. The person that threatens me will use that as an excuse to tear down all that I have built and I cannot allow that to happen. You may be angry now but I know you understand. You and Thad are a couple going strong and the protectiveness you have of him is admirable. I can see that you truly, deeply and madly love him. Don't let him slip away from you because that would destroy you both. Farewell and God's speed (even though you do not believe in Him).
Love Wes.*
First now did Sebastian realize the letter was in French. He hugged Thad close, buried his face in his shoulder and cried.
Thad knew he squeaked in surprise when Sebastian pulled him onto his lap, he nearly dropped the letter but he caught it and started reading.
*Dear Thad
Thank you for showing that you care about me by trying to make me leave but I cannot do that. I have to face my 'Boston Bears'. We have that in common you know. We both feel too small to stand up to those that are bigger than us and that are mocking our very existence and both of us are going to stand up to them when we can. I admire you for what you did in that game and I am going to be doing the same today. I am constantly surrounded by people that are bigger than me in their own eyes, people that want nothing else than hurting me and make me feel less worth. This school treats anyone without the right skin color as if they are lesser than dirt and I want to change that. I have started to change it and if I run now all that hard work will go to waste. Who want to remember and be compared to the coward that ran, the unreliable student. They will use that against me and people like me if I run. If I stay and even if I die everyone will know I made my stand and stood by it. To help this school become the safe haven it is in your world I need to do this, otherwise the Dalton you know will never start in the first place. So I am sorry if I hurt you but I have to. You are one of the smartest people I have the honor of knowing and I know you will understand and help the others understand. But promise me one thing, hold on tightly to that boyfriend of yours. He loves you with all his soul. I can see it and I can feel it. And remember, just because I live or die in the past so will my thoughts always be with you and the others. Farewell and God's speed.
Love Wes*
Thad felt Sebastian cry against his shoulder and tears were streaming down his own cheeks. He turned and face Sebastian and hugged him tightly.
Hunter bit his lip as he opened the letter and then he read.
*Dear Ranger
Yes I wrote that because I know it annoyed you when I kept getting your name wrong. Like I know it annoys you to no end that I am doing this. But I am pretty sure that you can understand why I do it. You were the first other than Blaine that saw me and you have no idea how good it felt to be seen by someone that is such a good guy as you. You were one of the first to hear me. Trent was first but he didn't know it. I'm so happy that I am being seen by you and that we are what could be called friends. You are protective and you want to help others. I want to be that too which is why I'm going to stay. By doing so I show the Asians, African-Americans and Latinos at this school that they as well as I are worth more than being mocked and being cut out of existence. It's for them I do everything that I do, which is why I cannot leave them. I hope you understand and ask out that girl I hear you and the boys talk about. She would be crazy to say no. Farewell Hunter and God's speed.
Love Wes.*
Hunter looked at the letter and wiped at his eyes, before smiling slightly.
"Ranger", he rasped out and had to hold back the sob.
Fred looked at his letter and was surprised he got one at all.
*Dear Fred
I haven't known you that long but know that I care about you. So I just want to say thank you for trying to make me leave, it means a lot to me that someone cares. But now I am warning you. Hurt Trent and I will haunt you from the grave until the day you die and when you die I will be there to make sure you end up in the darkest parts of hell. Hurt Trent and live miserable for the rest of your life and in the afterlife. Farewell and thank you Fred, God's speed.
Love and warnings from Wes.*
Fred chuckled slightly and put an arm around Trent. Wes needn't worry.
Trent felt his boyfriend chuckle and then looked at his letter.
*Dear Trent
You were the first person to ever hear me, well almost hear me, even though you didn't know it at first. It means a lot to me that someone heard me for once and that it was someone as sweet and caring as you makes me smile. You are an amazing, caring and friendly person. To see you happy with Fred makes my heart so much lighter. It warms my heart and soul that you care enough about me that you want me to leave so that I can survive, that you want to save me. So I say thank you for that. But the thing that I want to thank you for the most is taking care of Blaine before I could be there and when I couldn't. I know you will be there for him now and I thank you for that in advance. Know that I love you all and that I will think of you when I face my fate and know that I am proud to have gotten to know you all. When it came clear to you that you were hearing my voice you sang a song about hearing the bells. I didn't understand it then but I do now. Promise me you'll look after Blaine and I promise you that I will look after you from heaven. Farewell and God's speed and love.
Love Wes.*
Trent sniffled and then cried.
David noticed the reactions around him and sighed before reading his letter.
*Dear daydream believer and a wonderful friend
Thank you for being there David. I know you had the hardest time seeing me, believing me and trusting me. But that you did in the end moves my heart and soul. What was it you sang in that song? "Now you know how happy I can be. Oh, and our good times start and end, without dollar one to spend." We've had our good times and bad times but I am happy that we got them all. Understand that I am facing my fate knowing that I am doing the right thing. Right for people like you and I, people that doesn't look like the white ideal. I am doing this so that boys in the future, boys like you, Rock, Luke and Chris can join the Warblers if they want. That they can do whatever they want. "Cheer up Sleepy Jean oh what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?" It can mean all or nothing. That's how I understand my situation. If I run all the good work I've done for this school will be frowned upon and the good intentions lost and forgotten. If I stay I will be remembered for being murdered for a higher cause, a cause that is for the good of all. Do not hate me David, be happy for me. Because I have seen the future and it is a marvelous place. My dreams have come true, most of them. You are living proof of that and if it is because I meet my end tonight, then so be it. Because it's worth it. Farewell and God's speed.
Love Wes.*
David felt the tears go down his cheeks.
"Selfless bastard", he said and wiped them away.
Blaine had seen the reactions his friends got from their letters so he opened up his and read it.
*Dearest and most beloved Blaine
I have a lot to say to you, too much to say to you. But it all sums up in three little words that I mean with all my heart and soul. I. Love. You.*
Blaine stared. It wasn't long. It was only two lines and three words. But still, he knew it summed up everything that Wes felt about it. He looked again and then heard a voice sing softly:
You have banished me
From the land where I was born
Here upon a foreign shore, forsaken,
I have followed You and done Thy will
Should I kneel to you?
When I rise You strike me down
Once again a little one you've taken
Everywhere I turn it's darker still
What is it, Lord, that you want
And that I am not seeing?
What, in my innocent prayers,
Am I failing to say?
Never before have I questioned
The truth of your being
Never once have I dared
Never until today
"Wes", they all exclaimed and turned and saw him pace the floor, running a hand through his black hair. He was only wearing his grey slacks, black shoes, white shirt and tie. They could see that he was nervous. Blaine ran up to him and flung his arms around him. Only to realize… that he went straight through.
"No", Blaine said with big eyes. "No, no, no. Wes!"
He tried to take the hand of his beloved but it just went straight through. Blaine stared at his hand. The others hurried up to their friend and the 'ghost'. Hunter tried to touch Wes but his hand also went straight through.
"Wes can you hear me", Hunter asked.
All of a tremble I stand
On the edge of confusion
Who is to save me
If into the darkness I fall?
"Wes can you even see us", Trent asked and tried to touch his friend but the hand just went straight through.
Now that I need more than ever
My God to be near me
Do you hear when I call?
Are you there, after all?
"Wes we're here", David said and tried to take his hand. "We're here!"
You have to be there, you have to
My life I have placed in thy keep
And without you I am drifting
On a dark and rising sea
"Wes please", Blaine sobbed. "Wes just see us, see me."
You have to be there, you have to
Without you I drown in the deep
Too far, too far from land
The waters drag me down
I reach for your hand
"Wes please", Fred said. "You must see us. You must hear us."
Who, when I die, will throw open
His arms to receive me?
Who will believe me and take me
Into his embrace?
"Wes", Jeff sobbed. "Wes please look at us. We are here for you."
When I have gone to my rest
Will you watch me and wake me?
When my time comes at last
Will you grant me your grace?
"Wes never believe we're not here", Nick said.
I am so small in this earth
I am nothing without you
Daring to doubt you at all
Turns a knife in my heart
"Don't doubt us", Sebastian said. "I promise. We are all here."
Little by little I'm losing my way
In the shadows
I am losing my hold
And the world falls apart
"Wes we are always here for you", Thad said. "Like you've been there for us."
You have to be there, you have to
My life I have placed in thy keep
And without you I am drifting
On a dark and rising sea
You have to be there, you have to
Without you I drown in the deep
Too far, too far from land
The waters drag me down
I reach for your hand
Wes looked more desperate now as he sang.
And without you I am drifting
On a vast and rising sea
You have to be there, you have to
Without you I drown in the deep
Too far, too far from land
The waters drag me down
I reach for your hand
As he held the last note he looked at the door and they all jumped at it slammed open. But Wes looked calm.
"Richard", he said and Blaine recognized the young man that entered. "I should have realized."
"Yes you should have", Richard said as he slowly moved inside, he had a friend with him.
"I see you brought Patrick with you", Wes said. "Do you not dare to face me alone?"
"I do, but I want him to bear witness to this."
"So that he can claim I attacked you."
"You are far more intelligent than you look Montgomery."
"And you are just as stupid as I've always thought."
"You are the one that is stupid. Why didn't you just run?"
"Because I have something to fight for. A school where everyone has the same value. Not that you understand it since you come from a family of slave traders."
"White is good, black is evil and yellow is sick", Richard sick.
"I am sick", Wes said. "Sick and tired of you treating everyone around you like they are worth far less and you. So go ahead. Kill me. Because it will be known I made it to help everyone else. Right now a letter is making its way to the headmaster. He will know the truth. Your note is in there as well, as well as my journal where I tell of everything that has happened. Dalton will know. So go ahead. Kill me if you think that makes a difference."
Wes and the Warblers watched as Richard started pacing around him.
"Wes we're with you no matter what", Hunter said. Blaine nodded and the other Warblers stood behind Wes, giving him support.
"Are you getting cold feet Richard", Wes asked. "I guess so. After all you did not kill my family."
"I did!" Richard yelled. "I killed them! It was I who lit their house on fire."
Wes snorted.
"My family didn't die in a fire", he said. "They died from a disease that has no name. The doctors didn't want to cause a panic in the city so they got the newspaper to write that they died in a fire. You didn't kill them Richard. You could not kill them and you won't kill me. I know you won't because you are a good person."
Blaine screamed and tried to punch Richard when the first punch came. Richard punched Wes in the stomach. Wes fell to his knees. Richard roared in anger and started to hit and kick the boy at his feet.
"NO!" Blaine shouted and tried to rush him but nothing he could do could stop it. "NO!"
"Blaine don't look", Hunter said and grabbed him around the middle and twirled him so that he was facing Hunter's chest. David hugged him from behind and Blaine squeezed his eyes shut. All the Warblers closed their eyes and hugged the person next to them. Some of them cried. Because even though they didn't see the beating they heard every beat and every kick. For Blaine it felt as if it went on forever.
"Richard!" a voice yelled. Blaine looked up and saw Richard being pulled off of Wes by that boy Patrick and two other boys. "Richard stop it!"
"I'll kill the chink!" Richard yelled. One of the boys ran up to Wes and felt on his wrist. He paled.
"There's no pulse", he said and Richard stopped trashing.
"What?" he asked.
"He's dead…" the other boy got up.
"Bullocks", Patrick said."He cannot…"
"He is. There is no pulse… he is gone."
Richard looked around.
"We must leave", he said. "We cannot be caught here."
"But what if he is not dead", the third boy asked.
"Then let him die", Richard said and all four left. They ran and left Wes behind them on the floor. Blaine dropped to his knees.
"No", he said and stared at Wes' unmoving body. "NO!"
TBC Uh oh... I better run and hide now.