“Jesus, they weren’t kidding when they said it was a jail with a school in it.” Nick said quietly as they began to exit the bus.

The first thing Blaine noticed was the fences. They were huge, and outlined every single inch of the school for as far as they could see. The only way in and out of Dalton was through the front door.

“Alright boys, hands behind your backs while we walk in.” The security guard called from behind.

They all complied, and began the ascent up the stairs the front doors.

“This place looks like Hogwarts.” Jeff whispered.

“With no magic and more barbed wire.” Nick added.

Blaine rolled his eyes. Apparently the Warblers were a bunch of geeks. “Shut up.” He said abruptly and the boys fell into a silence when they walked through the doors.

Metal detectors, armed guards, a gate that required buzzing in, and more metal detectors. Clearly, this was not any old Reform school and the boys were going to be in for a surprise.

“Welcome to Dalton Academy.” Came a voice from behind the gate, and then the gate was swinging open to reveal a woman in a red pencil skirt and blouse. “I’m Mrs. Trench, and I’m your headmaster.”

The boys dropped their hands to their sides, and waited for more instructions. “You’re here because the crimes you’ve committed were not violent. You’re here because society wants to give you another chance to prove you aren’t as bad as you appear. You’re here, for a new beginning.” Mrs. Trench paused, looking over the young men in front of her. “Screw this chance up, and you’ll find yourself in juvie so fast your head will spin. I’ll let security initiate the admittance routine, and I’ll be with your shortly.”

The boys moved forward, and one by one they went through 2 sets of metal detectors, a pat down, and then some very unnecessary questioning.

“Any firearms, knives, bombs, or anything that could be considered a weapon?”

“Yes I have a bomb in my left sock.” Blaine replied sarcastically and the guard gave him a look.

“Your attitude will be adjusted soon, son.”

Blaine smirked before joining the other boys. “This place is a joke. As if anyone would be honest about those questions…” he muttered quietly.

They were joined once again by Mrs. Trench, who was holding 5 hangers of uniforms. “You’ll need to get changed into these now. From now on, the only clothes you’ll be wearing is this uniform. If you are caught in casual clothing, aside from when previously arranged, you’ll be sent solitary confinement for a period of up to 24 hours. A kit will be supplied to you, containing any and all hygiene products you will need for your stay. You will also be issued cellphones for your stay. They are to be used only to contact people within these grounds, and are programmed that way.”

The boys walked up to her, each taking a uniform before falling in line again. “Any violence, or defiance will find you rewarded with solitary confinement. Make no mistake, you will not enjoy solitary confinement, and will want to end up there as little as possible.”

“Go get changed out of your civilian clothes, and meet me in the common room in 5 minutes. Change rooms are down the hall to your left. Don’t try anything stupid, there are cameras watching you at all times.”

Blaine turned first, and the other boys followed.

“So basically, be straight and narrow and you’ll survive here.” David said when they entered the change rooms.

“I’m hardly straight,” Blaine said with a smile. “But I can probably at least attempt to behave myself.”

Jeff turned around as he pulled his blazer over his shoulders. “You’re gay?”

Blaine nodded. “Is that a problem?” He stepped closer to Jeff, putting a finger to his chest. “Because we can fix your problem if you want.”

“Blaine!” David half shouted, pulling his friend away. “Come on. We just got here, at least wait a day or two before being sent to solitary.”

Jeff looked slightly terrified. “No man. No problem. I’ve just never met a gay person before, so I was a little surprised.”

Blaine nodded, unclenching his fist. “Sorry. Just used to the hate that comes with it. Didn’t mean to get all up in your grill, sorry buddy.”

David started laughing and Blaine looked at him with confused eyes. “What is so funny?”

“Sorry…I can’t… All up in your grill?” He was holding his stomach now. “Since when did you become black, white boy?”

David’s laughter was contagious and soon enough all 5 of them were laughing so hard some of them had tears coming from their eyes.

The laughter instantly faded as a security guard entered the change room. “Let’s go, boys. Not a good idea to keep the Headmaster waiting. She ain’t pretty when she’s upset.”

The boys fell into a line again, dropping their old clothes in bins that had their names on them.

They were led to the common room, which, in Blaine’s opinion, could probably hold 4 separate houses on its own. “Holy shit…” He muttered as they continued walking.

They were brought an abrupt halt in front of the fire place. They were each handed a piece of paper and their room assignment.

“You will all have class together. Minus Mr. Anderson and Mr. Sharpe as they are a year ahead of the rest of you. You will all be rooming together and there are 6 people per room.”

Blaine raised his hand slowly. “Mrs. Trench, there’s only 5 of us.”

“You are very observant, Mr. Anderson. You are correct. There will be a 6th member of your room joining us in about 2 weeks, I believe. He had some family emergency and the Governor gave him a grace period.” She paused for a moment. “You are excused to find your room. Make sure everything you have 5 dress uniforms, and 2 casual ones. You’ll all have been supplied a black marker to write your name in them. I advise you to write your name on everything that is yours. We have some boys that… think everything belongs to them.” She finished, and flicked her hand. “Off you go.”

The boys crowded together, walking in the direction of the room area. “We room together. This’ll make the whole Warblers thing a lot easier.” Blaine said to David as they walked.

“You’re still doing that? Did you not hear what she said? Are you trying to get sent to solitary? Blaine, I think you left your brain at home. Maybe you should call your mom and request she send it via UPS, stat.” David said, obviously surprised that Blaine hadn’t been deterred.

They finally arrive at their room, and pushed it open slowly.

“Sweet, bunk beds!” Jeff said enthusiastically and hopped onto the first one. “I get top bunk, Nick.”

Nick grumbled, and collapsed onto the bottom bunk. “These beds aren’t half bad for a reform school.” He said with a smile, leaning back on the pillows.

Blaine walked towards the beds in the corner, and stopped David when he began to follow him. “Can you buddy with Beat? I like the idea of having the area to myself for 2 weeks.”

David nodded, and walked over to where Beat was standing. “Looks like I’m with you. Don’t you want the top?” He asked curiously as the other boy sat down on the bottom.

“No. I always feel like I’m going to fall off the top. If I fall off the bottom, at least it’s not that far of a drop.” Beat answered, and David nodded.

They set to a slow pace, writing their names on everything that had been given to them.

“Put the bottle down, finally got something to say…” Blaine sang softly under his breath. “Take another look around, and find someone else to play…”

The other boys were looking at him, obviously curious. David joined in first. “Needless to say, that you’ve got problems…” He sang as he put away his uniforms. “There’s no fucking way, that I’m gunna solve them.”

“It’s never the same, every time you slip, then you fall down, down, down.” Four of them sung at the same time, Beat doing his thing in the background.

“Ever wonder what I’ve been thinking about? I’ve been thinking about throwing you out!” Jeff and Nick sang together.

They finished the song in perfect harmony, and Blaine turned around. “Wow, we aren’t half bad. Dalton Academy, prepare for the Warblers to take over.” He said with a light chuckle. “I bet you by the time the new kid arrives, we’ll have everyone bowing at our feet.”

“You’re being very…” Nick paused, trying to think of the word.

“Presumptuous?” Jeff supplied.

Blaine eyed them with cold eyes. “Nobody’s begging you to stay. Based on the things I’ve heard, we’ll survive much better as a group. You’re more than welcome to venture out on your own if you want.” He said matter-of-factly.

Nick and Jeff shared a quick glance. “That’s not what we meant. What if there’s already a gang running this place?” Nick asked.

Blaine turned around from his closet. “Then we do what gangs usually do when one tries to take territory from the other.” He paused with a grin. “Fight for it.”