Dalton Draft AU part one
The story hit the news on an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday. The boys at Dalton had heard about the war (really how could you not?),but they hadn't really thought about it. It was just another topic on the news to talk about. The boys that turned eighteen did all the required paperwork, forgetting about it almost before they'd signed.
It was Ron who saw it first. He was doing his homework with the nightly news playing softly in the background. "The President has announced a mandatory draft..." Ron's head shot up and he gasped. After a moment of complete stillness, he leaped off his bed and ran through the halls yelling.
Word spread quickly after that and life at Dalton changed. Everyone was tense. The boys already eligible sat down to draft drawings every night, shaking with nerves. Those not yet eligible counted down to their birthdays with a growing sense of dread.
~~~~~
As the months passed and none of them had yet been drafted, everyone calmed. By the time Rome's birthday came in November, Dalton was mostly back to normal. Instead of anxiously staring at the TV during draft draws, everyone did homework while it played in the background. No one even paid much attention to the TV anymore, until the night that the announcer called a group that made Rome's head shoot up in horror. No one noticed until Colby glanced up and raised an eyebrow, "Sup?"
Rome shook his head, speechless. One by one, everyone else began to notice. Finally he managed to whisper, "My group... They called my group."
Rome was shipped out for basic training before Christmas. Not even a week later, Blaine's group was called. The day he left for basic, Jack was called.
~~~~~~
There was a lull after that and a month passed without any of the remaining students being drafted. All of the boys in basic training sent a letter at least every other day. Everyone would gather in a common room and read the letters aloud. One night, Rome's letter informed them he'd be back for a visit in a week. Then he'd be shipped to the front lines.
The day Rome came back, the other boys waited in the entry hall. Mocchi stood at the window watching for him for over an hour. Finally, his voice rang around the room, "He's here!"
Noah, closest to the door, jerked it open. Everyone's cries of happiness died on their lips. A stranger stood in the doorway. Rome's hair was cropped short in a buzz cut. Instead of the flouncy skirt he'd left in, he was wearing a uniform that fit like a box. His once bright, happy eyes were filled with terror. Silence reigned for a moment. Then Rome smiled and they could pretend that nothing had changed for a while.
That night, in the darkness of Eoin's room, he shuddered in Eoin's arms as he sobbed out his fears.
~~~~~~
The night Blaine's letter heralded an imminent visit, Ron's group was called. The next afternoon Evan went to the recruiting center. They shipped to basic together.
The night Noah was called, he and Colby disappeared into their room immediately. Everyone assumed they were having sex. In fact, Noah was looking down at Colby on his knees. "Noah, please. We can make it to my house tonight. You don't have to go. Please, don't leave me. Please."
Noah shipped out on time. Colby didn't speak for a week.
~~~~~~
Everyone noticed Benji getting quieter and quieter with every boy that was drafted, and when Ian was called, they found out why. Benji signed up for the Chaplain corps the next afternoon. "I have to be there for them somehow, " was all he'd say about the matter.
~~~~~~~
Six months after the first announcement of the draft, Dalton was a different place. The halls were emptier. The students quieter. Then the letter came.
In cold, formal type they were informed that Blaine had been too close to a grenade thrown into his trench. He was alive, but not whole. Ben left immediately to stay near the military hospital where Blaine was sent.
Wes and David went to visit often. They would sit next to Blaine, chattering to fill the silence. When Blaine spoke, which was rarely, his voice had none of the warmth and humor of before. It was brittle and cold. Most of the time though, he just sat in silence. His jaded eyes staring blankly at the walls and absently fingering his empty right sleeve.
TBC
It was Ron who saw it first. He was doing his homework with the nightly news playing softly in the background. "The President has announced a mandatory draft..." Ron's head shot up and he gasped. After a moment of complete stillness, he leaped off his bed and ran through the halls yelling.
Word spread quickly after that and life at Dalton changed. Everyone was tense. The boys already eligible sat down to draft drawings every night, shaking with nerves. Those not yet eligible counted down to their birthdays with a growing sense of dread.
~~~~~
As the months passed and none of them had yet been drafted, everyone calmed. By the time Rome's birthday came in November, Dalton was mostly back to normal. Instead of anxiously staring at the TV during draft draws, everyone did homework while it played in the background. No one even paid much attention to the TV anymore, until the night that the announcer called a group that made Rome's head shoot up in horror. No one noticed until Colby glanced up and raised an eyebrow, "Sup?"
Rome shook his head, speechless. One by one, everyone else began to notice. Finally he managed to whisper, "My group... They called my group."
Rome was shipped out for basic training before Christmas. Not even a week later, Blaine's group was called. The day he left for basic, Jack was called.
~~~~~~
There was a lull after that and a month passed without any of the remaining students being drafted. All of the boys in basic training sent a letter at least every other day. Everyone would gather in a common room and read the letters aloud. One night, Rome's letter informed them he'd be back for a visit in a week. Then he'd be shipped to the front lines.
The day Rome came back, the other boys waited in the entry hall. Mocchi stood at the window watching for him for over an hour. Finally, his voice rang around the room, "He's here!"
Noah, closest to the door, jerked it open. Everyone's cries of happiness died on their lips. A stranger stood in the doorway. Rome's hair was cropped short in a buzz cut. Instead of the flouncy skirt he'd left in, he was wearing a uniform that fit like a box. His once bright, happy eyes were filled with terror. Silence reigned for a moment. Then Rome smiled and they could pretend that nothing had changed for a while.
That night, in the darkness of Eoin's room, he shuddered in Eoin's arms as he sobbed out his fears.
~~~~~~
The night Blaine's letter heralded an imminent visit, Ron's group was called. The next afternoon Evan went to the recruiting center. They shipped to basic together.
The night Noah was called, he and Colby disappeared into their room immediately. Everyone assumed they were having sex. In fact, Noah was looking down at Colby on his knees. "Noah, please. We can make it to my house tonight. You don't have to go. Please, don't leave me. Please."
Noah shipped out on time. Colby didn't speak for a week.
~~~~~~
Everyone noticed Benji getting quieter and quieter with every boy that was drafted, and when Ian was called, they found out why. Benji signed up for the Chaplain corps the next afternoon. "I have to be there for them somehow, " was all he'd say about the matter.
~~~~~~~
Six months after the first announcement of the draft, Dalton was a different place. The halls were emptier. The students quieter. Then the letter came.
In cold, formal type they were informed that Blaine had been too close to a grenade thrown into his trench. He was alive, but not whole. Ben left immediately to stay near the military hospital where Blaine was sent.
Wes and David went to visit often. They would sit next to Blaine, chattering to fill the silence. When Blaine spoke, which was rarely, his voice had none of the warmth and humor of before. It was brittle and cold. Most of the time though, he just sat in silence. His jaded eyes staring blankly at the walls and absently fingering his empty right sleeve.
TBC