Thes, First Time Meeting

Frustrated Wes ran a hand through his hair. Sectionals was in a week and one of their members was in a coma from a Football injury while he healed! Where would he find a kid who could sing? Most kids auditioned when they arrived at Dalton, and they only turned away those with truely unable voices. Slamming his pen down he groaned. It was late, he wanted to sleep, but they had one week to find and train someone.

Sighing again he yawned. It was Friday night and most Warblers had gone home. Wes was in his Junior year at Dalton and had been the Head Council Member since his Sophomore year and he'd never had trouble like this before. On his way back to the his unshared double dorm Wes paused by the top of the stairs in the entrance hall as he saw flashing lights outside. Hearing the voices of Carmichael and an unfamiliar one he stayed in the shaddows and listened.

"Sorry it's late, we had it planned in the daytime and not this soon." A woman said, he could hear her footsteps as she walked, she was wearing stilettos which were making a 'click-clack' sound against the marble floors.

"You did what you had to do, his safety is obviously a concern."

"Of course, I trust you have found a suitable roommate, someone calm and trust-worthy?"

"Yes, well when you said you were arranging this I put aside a roommate for him. Is he OK?"

"Well he's sleeping now, so I should probably wake him. But one thing concerns me, he's very active, it takes his mind from... well, his situation. Isn't it too late?"

"Not at all, Dalton clubs always have tryouts. I am sure he'll find something. Do you have his file?"

"Yes, everything is here. Come, we really should get him inside."

"One second, Wes," Wes cursed inwardly. Carmichael knew he'd heard everything. "Come out now, come along." Making his pressence known Wes desended the stairs.

"Sorry Sir, I was on my way back to my dorm and-"

"Never mind that, we were on our way up there now, just one quick stop." Wes followed his principle out to the car with flashing lights. An officer stood by the car.

"How is he?"

"Still sleeping." He said. The lady, whom Wes assumed was a Social Worker opened the door and sat on the edge of the seat.

"Sir?"

"I was going to tell you in the morning, you have a new roommate, he wasn't meant to arrive until tomorrow afternoon. Complications happened." Wes leaned so he could see inside the car. A boy was sleeping, bundled tightly in blankets, of his face that Wes could see- despite being angelic- was bruised and he was sure he could see blood.

"Thad, Thad honey, wake up, we're at your new school." She said softly stroking his hair. His eyes fluttered open, a warm honey-amber shade flashed with fear. "It's OK, you're safe, come on, meet your roommate, then we can get you to bed," she whispered softly. Carefully the boy nodded.

"This was all we could salvage," an officer said to Carmichael opening the trunk of the car and producing a case.

"He's sorted for uniform and we can sort him some other clothes as soon as possible."

"Thad, this is your roommate, Wes."

Wes noticed the boy was on his feet, he was shorter then Wes himself and looked about to passout. "Hi Thad," Wes smiled reasurringly, "I'm sure we'll get along, come on, you look exhausted." Thad nodded, eyes drooping, he swayed on his feet and Wes shot foreward, catching him as he fell. "Whoa there, come on," he said but Thad was gone from the world. Shaking his head good-naturedly Wes lifted the sleeping boy bridal style to find he wieghed barely anything. In his room Wes laid the boy on the spare bed, covering him with the blanket as Carmichael set the bag down.

"Wes, I'll explain everything tomorrow afternoon once he's settled, I promise. Sorry about the short notice."

"Don't worry about it," he said.

"Will you be OK?"

"Yes."

"Goodnight."

"Night Sir."

That night Wes was awoken by distressed moans. Eyes adjusting to the low light he looked around confused before memory reminded him he had a roommate. Kneeling by the other bed he stroked the hair of the whimpering boy. "Sh, Thad it's OK, I'm here, everything is fine, you're safe. Shh, calm down, it's alright," he soothed before he was met with the honey-amber gaze of the smaller boy, who held his gaze for a moment before pushing past Wes into the bathroom where the Junior heard retching and splattering. Instict kicking in he rushed to his roommate and rubbed circles on his back reasurring him he was safe. Once he stopped throwing up Thad placed his forehead to the cool ceramic bowl, tears rolling over his face his body wracked with sobs. "Here, rinse," Wes said softly.

"Thank you," it was only quiet but Wes heard it and smiled, Thad's voice was beautiful.

"Better now?" Thad nodded, wiping his eyes and sniffing. "Come here," he said softly, sitting against the wall, pulling Thad to him, Thad relaxed in his arms. "Is there anything that helps you sleep?"

"Before she died, my mother, she used to sing to me." Thad said softly.

"Anything in particular?"

"Les Mis?" Wes smiled.

"Come on, come back to bed," once Thad was under the covers Wes sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his hair and cheek.

"There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls,
Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says "Thad, I love you very much."

I know a place where no one's lost,
I know a place where no one cries,
Crying at all is not allowed,
Not in my castle on a cloud."

Thad was asleep by the end of the song. "Good night Thad," Wes whispered and after one last look at the peaceful look on his face Wes moved back to his own bed, sitting against the headboard he switched his dim lamp on and pulled out his notebook and wrote new arrangements for the Warblers to try while Thad slept on in peace.