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(Ryan's POV)

It was just after new year, and it was Ryan's first day at Dalton Academy. He turned his car into the driveway of Dalton Academy and passed through it's imposing gates. He continued up the gravel covered avenue until he came to the student's parking lot and found himself an empty spot.

I'll go and register myself at the office first before I carry all my stuff in, because I don't know where my room is any way. The redhead thought to himself. He looked into the rearview mirror to check he looked smart enough and breathed in deeply, giving himself a quick mental pep talk.

You can do this. The school has an anti-bullying policy, so even if something does happen you can report it and expect to get something done about it. He nodded to his reflection.

I've got to relax. I'm not going to make friends if I'm this up tight. Jeff seemed really nice, I hope he is here today and can help me settle in and meet a couple of other students at least. I'm so sick of feeling lonely, but I don't want to be a burden to him.

Finally he felt ready to leave the car, taking his backpack with him. He adjusted his tie and smoothed the lapels on his new navy Dalton blazer. It's oddly refreshing to wear a uniform for a change. At least I can't stick out that much if everyone is dressed the same.

Except for my hair of course. Ryan grimaced to himself, fed up yet again wheh he realised that he would probably still stick out like a sore thumb with red hair against a sea of navy blue.


Ryan was in the office filling out some paperwork. He was pleased to find out from the secretary that he had a single room allocated to him after all. I wonder if Jeff's room still has a spare bed and he didn't want to share with me after all?

His insecure thoughts were interrupted by none other than Jeff Sterling himself bouncing into the office, apparently to meet him.

The secretary addressed Ryan. "You remember Jeff? He will show you to your dorm in a few moments and then he can give you a quick tour again. Don't forget to take the map I gave you, it can be quite a confusing place to find your way around until you are used to it." She said kindly.

Ryan finished up the paperwork and thanked her before following Jeff out of the office, this time without his sister for support. He was suddenly hit by a fresh wave of nerves. He tried to concentrate on what Jeff was saying to him.

"...I'm pretty sure it was Nate who did it, but don't tell Wes. Any way, that meant we had to shuffle rooms a bit after your visit and I share with Kurt now. You're lucky, you now get a single with a new bathroom and most importantly it's just across the hall from my room!" He laughed.

Jeff thought to himself, he looks quite nervous. I remember my first day, I was really worried about making friends.

"Seriously though, anything you need or want to ask, just hammer on our door. Kurt can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes, but his heart is in the right place. As long as I don't mess up his side of the room or touch his precious wardrobe without asking he's actually an awesome friend. I think you'll get on well with him."

Jeff saw that Ryan was starting to relax at this, so he carried on, trying to loosen him up and get him to laugh. "Don't tell him I told you, but he has a major crush on the usual lead singer of the Warblers, Blaine. Mind you, I think everyone knows except Blaine himself." Ryan laughed as Jeff rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. Jeff was pleased with himself for getting him to relax.

"Sooo, here we are. Warbler floor as we have unofficially named it, because everyone on this floor is a member now that Nate finally joined before Christmas."

Ryan coloured slightly at the mention of the black haired boy. He coughed slightly as he asked "Nate? The tall one with black hair that messed up the routine I saw?"

Jeff let himself into Ryan's room and gestured at it. "Here it is, your new room." Then he answered Ryan's question. "Yeah, that was Nate. I think he got a little bit, uh, distracted?" Jeff tried to read Ryan's face as he said this, not sure whether to bring up Nate's obvious crush. If he's not gay this could make him feel awkward. I think I should keep quiet until I know his sexuality... or until he meets Nate, of course! Subtlety is not really his thing!

"Any ways, do you need help getting stuff up from your car?" Ryan nodded gratefully and the boys headed for the redhead's car to retrieve his things.


An hour later, Jeff was helping unpack Ryan's bags in his room. "Jeez, and I thought Kurt had a lot of clothes!" he exclaimed, finding yet another bag full, this time skinny jeans folded neatly in various shades and hues.

Ryan laughed good-naturedly as he explained "My sister is a fashion design major, I guess fashion appreciation runs in the family!"

"That's cool. I love clothes too. You should check out my shirt collection sometime - it even makes Kurt drool!"

The blond continued. "Speaking of Kurt, if you're done here we can go across the hall to our room to introduce you properly, then we can grab some lunch."

Ryan took a few minutes to put his toiletries away in the bathroom, Jeff commenting that he had nowhere near the amount of pots and potions that his room-mate did, before they both went across the hall.

Kurt was sat on his bed, typing something on his laptop, which he put away when the boys came in, standing up to greet Ryan.

He offered his hand to the redhead who shook it. "Hi, you must be Ryan. I'm Kurt, it's lovely to meet you." He smiled genuinely.

"Hi Kurt, it's great to meet you too. Jeff has been telling me about your wardrobe collection." At this, Kurt shot a withering glance at Jeff, but Ryan hastily carried on.

"It's all good. My sister majors in fashion design and I'm her favourite shopping partner, so I suspect we have a few interests in common. Jeff thinks my wardrobe might actually rival yours in size, certainly my accessories any way!" Ryan started to become wistful again, thinking about his sister. It's term time now so I wouldn't see her even if I was at home. Keep it together!

Kurt clapped his hands and bounced on his toes. "In that case, we definitely have to compare notes!"

Jeff was pleased at how well Kurt and Ryan were getting on. However, he was very hungry by now and the lunch period was half over already. "I hate to break you two up bonding over your wardrobes, but I'm starving! Shall we go to the cafeteria?"

Ryan paled and he was sure that the other two heard him gulp suddenly. The cafeteria. Home of bullying at Westerville High. But it's not Westerville, it's Dalton. He tried desperately to calm himself. No-one has mentioned my hair or Harry Potter once today. It'll be okay. Kurt's talking to you, listen, you idiot!

"...are you okay, Ryan?" Kurt put a hand on his upper arm to get his attention back.

"Uh, er, yeah. F-fine. C-cafeteria. Yeah, let's go." Ryan nodded, but he didn't look very sure.

Kurt was concerned. He knew only too well how intimidating cafeterias could be when you were a bullying victim. He wasn't sure what was going on with Ryan, but there were only so many reasons for transferring schools mid-way through a year. He decided he would keep close to him when they entered the room, just in case the new boy needed any help. His own first day at school he had had a panic attack in the cafeteria.

Kurt tried to reassure the nervous boy. "Don't worry about not knowing anyone yet, they're all really friendly. You may not have met many of the Warblers, but you saw most of them when you visited. We all tend to sit at the same table. Jeff and I will be there to introduce you and we'll sit with you, okay?"

This seemed to be enough to return some colour to Ryan's cheeks as he nodded gratefully and followed the other two in the direction of the cafeteria.

Jeff and Kurt introduced Ryan to those of the Warblers that they found still in the cafeteria, once they had bought their lunch and taken seats around the Warbler table. Jeff and Kurt flanked Ryan protectively.

The new boy particularly liked Trent who seemed fun and very sassy. He had immediately extended an invitation to his upcoming birthday party to the new boy.

"Trent's parties are stuff of legend. I hope you have a strong stomach!" Jeff laughed from his side, as Ryan looked sideways at him, slightly worried. "They're not that bad, just a lot of drinking games and karaoke since we all love to sing." The blond reassured him quickly.

"Er, okay, thanks. When is it again?"

Trent answered "On the 23rd January. Just before the Annual Warbler Bonding outing at the beginning of February. That reminds me, we need to get suggestions for this year's activity. I'll ask Wes to bring it up in the Any Other Business section of the next Warbler meeting." He made a quick reminder of this for himself on his phone.

Blaine and Nick started discussing possible activities with Thad and Flint, over to Ryan's right on the table. I don't know what I was worried about. Ryan thought in relief. I've made lots of new friends already and it doesn't look like anyone is about to send my tray crashing to the floor. I may actually get to eat my lunch today! He looked down at the very appetizing lasagne and salad he had selected, suddenly realising how hungry he really was. He dug in, half listening to talk of orienteering, sailing, paintballing and horse riding among other things suggested for the annual bonding activity.

Ryan had just finished his lunch when he was startled by someone sitting very close to him, squeezing himself between him and Jeff in a space barely big enough for another body. He could feel the warmth spread from the newcomer's body to his from his shin to his hip and up his arm to his shoulder, where they were pressed together. He made the mistake of breathing in and his senses were overwhelmed by aftershave and gorgeous boy.

"Hey, sexy, I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I borrow yours?" Nate wiggled his eyebrows at Ryan.

Ryan didn't know what to do. Say something back! But what if he is laughing at me? Is it some kind of sick joke? If I look like I think he's really interested in me then the whole table will probably laugh at me. Just when I thought this school was different. I need to get out of here. Now.

(Nate's POV)

The redhead looked flustered, then suddenly got up and mumbled something quickly to Jeff about having forgotten to call his Dad and abruptly left, hurrying back to his dorm.

"Er, Nate, what exactly was I supposed to learn from that?" Jeff started making aeroplane noises and laughing at his expense "ooooh, crashed and burned, crashed and burned!" The rest of the table were also laughing at him now.

Nate looked puzzled. This is going to be harder than I thought. Well, I'm not giving up, this is so on!

"Shut it, Sterling!" He growled at the blond who was still laughing. "How about you give me some tips on asking someone out?" He used his eyes to indicate a certain brunet at the table who he suspected Jeff was crushing on. Jeff paled and went silent instantly, shaking his head and pleading with his eyes for Nate to shut up, his lips mouthing "No!"

Nate smirked, then returned his attention to the food on his tray, deep in thought.


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