Andrew Q Gordon

Why am I not surprised that is you faux fav. Um . . . does it work?

Very Sorry I'm a day late with the new chapter - was totally swamped yesterday getting ready for my trip. I'll do my best to get it posted today - Andy

Yeah can't say too much more about sad or else - well anyone reading this might think I was writing something sad now. But this was truly one of the harder parts to right because I wanted to rush it so Peter was better and we could move on - but that wasn't what happened as we both know. I think there was a point where you said if he didn't wake up soon I was going to have an angry mob outside my house. lol - good thing only one person on GA knows where I live.

A story without conflict is boring right?? Everyone else seems to think Peter is a jerk for this but look at it from his perspective - remember when they were at his house - he told Jason he always dreamed he get to go home with 'that' guy and he thought in Jason he was with 'that' guy? Here all he sees is 'that' guy dumping him and it's killing him. Um that and it takes away a bit of control for him too. Yes I remember the author/beta back and forth with this and other chapters.

That's what you got from the chapter??? Do I have a cute soccer butt - I can't say, Mike doesn't like me talking about how good my butt looks Thanks Mark appreciate that your reading.

I don't get it - Just kidding That was a lot in a little space. Very cute.

HC - Just an FYI on the iPad - can't speak much for the others as we don't have on in our house - you can buy a keyboard attachment for the iPad too. That said -I bought Mike an iPad for Christmas - it's nice, he uses it to check his mail, surf the web in bed or while watching tv etc. He watches movies on it when we travel and he reads on it using the iBook feature. You can get a word processing app easy enough so writing on it won't be an issue if you get the keyboard. that said, I'd get a netbook if the purpose is to write. First - netbooks - at least here in DC/US are half what tablets costs. I saw one for $249 with a $50 gift card at target - they had a tablet thingy for $399- no gift card - now that's not saying that is the best pricing just an example. I find it easier to write on my laptop than one of those keyboard attachments AND by the time you pack up the tablet and the keyboard etc, you're carrying almost as much stuff as a netbook weight and size wise and if you forget the keyboard then what? So if you're planning to use it to write, go with the netbook. That's my 2 cents worth. Andy

Doesn't anyone understand the need for discretion around here? Do you all work for congress or something??

That was rather ominous. Travis trying to teach Charlie to defend himself or to carry a weapon - clearly concerned about him getting gay bashed. Luke peering at Charlie - clearly he's planning to hurt Charlie and Derrick seems to have sixth sense about it. I like the part where Travis and Charlie are laughing and having a good time together. It shows them interacting and enjoying each other's company. It's too bad Derrick can't see it. Then there is the part about Derrick's Dad that's really a Got a feel for what's happening next but don't want to ruin it in case I'm right.

Well Travis was obvious - we all knew or should have known that is who would be Becca's friend, but then were in on the secret that Charlie is gay and Derrick isn't at this point What I liked most was how you showed us the change in Derrick. Not the suave confident man about town he was before now that he is chasing someone who hasn't really fallen under his spell. Some thoughts - did she agree to the date just so she could get Derrick comfortable with Travis and Charlie being together? Did she do it knowing Derrick would want Charlie to run interference and let her and Derrick be alone thus providing them both with cover? Or did she really want to go with Derrick and used it to help out her two friends? No no, don't answer, I know you won't

It's odd - well maybe not odd to you as you wrote it - but despite finding Derrick's inability to see or even suspect Charlie is gay hard to swallow, despite his 'perfect' schtick being a bit over the top, it's a really well done story. The emotions are very clear, I can feel them at times. This scene, while a part of me says it wasn't necessary for the story as it didn't move it along that much - really showed the dynamic between the two better than almost any chapter so far. There was no tension here, no major conflict to be resolved or nothing, just the pair of them being friends, best friends. That was good writing.

I read the reviews before writing this. I'm not sure I detest Derrick. I say that because it is clear from the start even Derrick gets he's a schmuck for what he did to Charlie, or at least how he acted. It's clear from how you write him that Derrick is meant to be .... well something of an unlikeable guy but yet, only the readers seem to not like him. Well Luke, Travis, Becca - hmmm seems like just about EVERYONE doesn't like him, even though he thinks everyone does LOL I do have to say that I'm finding it harder and harder to buy that Derrick didn't know. I mean the part at Casey's was a dead give away - for sure, not doubt then add in what happened at the gym. No, even he'd see it especially after all the clues and hints everyone has been dropping. But this is your story so Imma gonna go with how you lay it out

For sum reason this: Don't ask - no idea.

Wow, talk about clueless - I agree Becca is gonna bring a guy - clearly she and Charlie were communicating somehow. My take on Derrick and I still don't necessary 'like' him, is he is clueless because he sees Charlie as the ultimate 'fan' someone who basks in his glory and derives meaning from him. He doesn't see Charlie as gay because, that wouldn't be the perfect best friend. So he ignores what he doesn't want to see. Put me in the camp that says Charlie and Derrick do NOT end up together. Friends that close are more like brothers and brothers .... well that's icky. But I'm so bad at figuring out what's next, I should shut up and read

Interesting 'time warp' so we skipped 4 years and Derrick still has no clue about Charlie. Seemingly whatever issues Charlie had about wanting to tell Derrick, they're gone and he didn't tell him. And somehow he got over the hurt of losing that special bond they had. Somehow he soldiered on and push it aside. But I have to wonder if at some point Derricks gonna push Charlie too far and the resentment he's swallowed at how Derrick act that day won't come up and make him step away. Really well done - I know I've said this before but the dynamics are beautiful set out.

Couple things - this was incredibly sad. It was like a piece of Charlie was ripped out - and it was. Despite the self regret in Derrick here, it's hard to like him very much. He is not worthy of Charlie's friendship much less his devotion. One other thing. I guess I disagree with those who were intrigue with the cliff hanger. I found the idea the use of this was the biggest mistake of my life or the until it was too late to be a cheap way to tease us. Yes Derrick is the narrator but point out the key moments of regret feels somewhat forced. IDK, maybe it's just me - others like it so don't take my comments too seriously on that. I guess I don't like to be told - 'hey listen up, this is a biggie' But still very powerful chapter. It was really sad in so many ways.

You can just see and feel the hurt in his voice with this. Poor guy. The end feels like he's finally gonna tell Derrick, just has that feel - like Charlie's ready for it to be over. But my prognostication skills are rarely right so he won't. LOL

Interesting tale you're weaving. I still find the whole 'perfect' thing odd, but whatever. Then again, the idea that in Derrick's mind he is perfect and being gay is being different and not being the norm, and if he thinks he sets the standard for normal, I can see why there is this whole 'perfect' theme running through this. The end was well done - Andrew - good name for someone so insight btw - gives Derrick a ton to chew on but the light's still not on I think. It won't sink in nor will he make the connection to what everyone else sees. Perhaps that's the problem, while he doesn't see what others see, other assume he does and his 'inability' to see it is taken as defensiveness to deflect people from thinking he's gay. Quite well done indeed.

That was so corny It's interesting that Mr. Perfect doesn't understand perfectly what's happening. One wonders if Charlie will get tired of being part of Hero's crowd and branch off on his own at some point leaving Derrick to his own devises. Popular as he is, Derrick seems to spend his time with his best friend. Life would suck pretty mightily if he lost Big C. He just doesn't know it.

Part of me thinks Big C has a major crush on Hero, the other part says he wants to let his best friend know he's gay but not trying to seduce him. I think it's more the later. But how do you build a best friendship on a lie? Kinda hard to think that after he tells Derrick, all will be good because Derrick expect him to be honest. Tough spot

Interesting how you write Hero/Derrick. He's kinda a chump, but he really is Big C's hero. I'm not sure what you're going for totally here. I say that because for the most part it's a serious story, but the perfect this perfect that just doesn't lend itself to believability. No on))e, not even Derrick would think or talk like that, so in a sense it's some what farcical but for the most part not. It doesn't detract from the story, just makes me wonder.

How come we don't talk about fun stuff?

Thanks John, I didn't want to do the same as everyone else so i tried it from a different side. It was just me avoiding doing more work on Purpose

Haha, curse you Dark, draggin me into this like that - you so need to give me chocolate to appease me now I can say with absolute certainty I can not do July fourth anywhere but DC - my parents have decided years ago that they come to DC for that holiday and spend it with me and mike. And when their granddaughter arrives, fuggedaboutit - there gonna be here for sure. SOOO First things first, if folks ARE interested in a meet up, let's start our own thread and stop using Dark's and the West Coast GAng Bangers After that I suppose we can find a day and location and a coordinator or three. Andy

Haha, I have no idea what to say other than I'm not the genie - so don't worry about it being granted, much less in a way you wouldn't like