Lisa

I like how the beginning starts out with everything is the narrator's fault (at least according to the person he's talking to), but yet, this person peeled away all the narrator's layers until he was laid bare, and saw the real person underneath. And loved him for it. At least that's what I got out of it. I did read it numerous times. As I've told you before, Doc, sometimes poetry (or the meaning of poems) just flies right over my head!

So, I had been feeling like crap for the last few days, and I was loopy with the cold meds I'm taking; I couldn't get my brain to work to comment on the chapter. Now that I'm a bit better, I can think straighter. If that made any sense to anyone, wonderful. (I'm also tired right now from working all damn day.) Anyway...WOW!!! That's all I can say! Was Kenny there with the cops? Did Kenny bring the cops? Was it just a coincidence they were both there? Did the cops even know about Kenny? Or are they there to question Scott about things he did when he was TP? Ugh, only three more days till I can find out the answers!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DREW!!!!! I hope you're having an awesome day!!

It was wonderful that Liam got to spend some time with his other family. Spending some time away from home might put things in better perspective for him regarding Alek or Nathan. The conversation between Eileen and Liam really choked me up. Sometimes we don't realize how much we miss someone until we see them again. It's apparent that Liam loves Marty's family just as much as they love him. This was a wonderful, heartwarming chapter, Lit. And congrats again on your GAversary and on becoming purple! Oh, and I believe Earl Gray is with an 'e': Earl Grey. =)

Gary, that was beautiful. You made me cry all over again. But why didn't you want it as part of the collection?

CONGRATS, LIT!!!!!! This is such a well-deserved promotion! And HAPPY GA-VERSARY TOO!!!! I really like your banner also; Mann did a great job.

There were a few very interesting facts Jim thought about. I know he said if he was four or five inches taller...now I can't remember. Was Drew that tall? Over six feet? Then Jim's right; how could his head slip under the water? I should be surprised Jim slept with Kevin after Kevin just slept with Cam, but I'm not. I wonder if Cam will be jealous when he finds out. This was another interesting chapter, Rich.

Oh man, am I slow tonight! Hahaha! So it's all Spikey's fault, now is it? hehe

Huh? lol

Hahah! I just read the posts! Funny! I wish I had time to check out the story forums.

I thought you were talking about that when you mentioned Alek, but then the other stuff went right over my head!

This most definitely is NOT a crime! I agree with him that the crime is letting these stupid people put up grammatically incorrect signs! I was just in my profile trying to find a background picture, and I came across a balloon site which boasted about 'making deliverys'. OMFG! What moron let that one slide by???? I think that guy in Bristol is doing a great thing. I want to do that here. But during the day, not at night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, READER!!!!! I hope you're having an awesome day!

Why would Kevin lie to Jim about never being in the Founders' house? And why did he find it necessary to tell Cameron all of this? And why on earth would Kevin say if he hadn't been with Kohler that night, Kohler would still be alive? What does THAT mean? And Kevin confessed to Cameron that he's been cheating on his partner? Even when he was in Chicago? This story keeps getting better and better.

Emi, the last two lines of Lost Love are so heartfelt. The whole poem just hit so close to home. I keep reading it over and over again. It's very emotional -- being in a relationship and not really knowing where it all went wrong, and then it's too late; he already found someone else. You did an excellent job with it, Emi.

Wow, this is amazing, Emi! I read the prompt for it, and all I thought was, "Huh???" Your poem definitely showed me what the prompt meant. I especially loved Wonder, the retriever.

Emi, this is awesome! I ditto Mac and AC; I like the 'Begin' at the beginning of each stanza. Happy B-day Mr. Emi! And Happy Retirement also!

I am so happy Billy and Dustin made up!! I guess it took comingthisclose to beating the shit out of his best friend that Dustin finally realized he was being just like his no-good "family." He is better than they are. And I think in his own way, he sort of came out to Billy. At least about his feelings for Billy. I knew Emily already figured things out with B&B. Like Shadow, I'm surprised Billy was able to keep his big mouth shut and not tip Dustin off to the fact that he knows what Dustin does in the park. That would not have been received well. lol Of course Billy can't hide this new turn of events from Brett, and Brett is NOT going to be happy that his b/f is back to being best friends with Dustin. I don't even want to HEAR what song Brett's gonna sing for Billy! At least he won't have to call him a cunt!

I'm so glad Graham decided on giving Scott another chance. It's amazing actually, considering his brother Jeremy could have been one of Scott's victims. I do like the three conditions, though. You can tell Graham thought a lot about this. I would really love to see all of TP's victims' faces if he ever tracks them down to apologize. And TP would have NEVER BEGGED a guy to give him another shot! This is another example of how much Scott has grown over the course of the story. He also admitted to Graham that Graham was the one who changed him. He would have never admitted that to anyone before. This was the perfect chapter, Parker! Especially since now we know Scott won't be homeless anymore.

CONGRATULATIONS VAL, AC, PARKER, AND PUPPI!!!!! Wow, a three-way tie! When has that happened before? Now, Parker's story is the one I thought was his, but I thought he must have collaborated with AC on it because there was so much detail about SF. I guess I was only half wrong there. I guessed Puppi wrote Served Cold, and I already knew Val and Addy's stories, but the others were a mystery. I would have never thought Cole wrote Fool's Gold, so you certainly fooled me there! I loved all the stories, and it was really difficult to pick just one to vote for. Thank you, Renee, for bringing us these hella awesome contests, and thank you, Reader, for counting the votes. And I totally love the colorful banners! They actually remind me of very round Easter eggs!

I like that -- Team Liam. The conversation between Liam and Alek was very mature, and it seemed so natural. Nothing they said sounded forced. I totally get Liam being so tired of all the anger and hurt he's still carrying around. It's good that they could sort of come to some kind of closure -- even if it was romantic closure and not friend closure. Does that make sense? I agree with Dugh when he said that Liam will be busy with school and work; he might not even have time for a partner. I do hope, though, that he and Nathan will remain friends. Great chapter, Lit!

I'm very disappointed in Adam. He should be with Seth, not Codey. Even if Adam has developed feelings for Codey, despite originally just using him to get to his father, he shouldn't be leading Codey on. Codey is going to be so hurt when Adam/Matt leaves in the morning and doubly hurt when he finds out he was being used. For everyone in Adam's life who loves him, I hope for their sake that he finds the river is not always better in another town, city, county, state, etc.

Adam has every right to be furious with his father. Ok, sure, his father wanted to talk. Great. But...did he get out of the car and try to hug his own son? Did he try to show him any kind of affection? No. And I can't believe his father just listened to him and drove off. He didn't even try to talk right there by the car. He just left. Seems to be him MO. I'm thrilled about the kiss. Finally! I just hope in the next chapter Adam and Seth can talk.

You better not wait a week, Parker!! Your readers will be after you with pitchforks!!!

I agree with Emi; I found this chapter very emotional. I'm still all choked up over the fact that Adam feels he needs to leave this river behind to find another river. But maybe he'll find an ocean instead, or maybe just a small pond. We always think the grass is always greener on the other side, but I think Adam will find out his river was always the better river because it included people he loved, like his mom and his brother (he still loves his brother). The new body of water he finds won't have the comforts of his old river. I think he will find he's lonely with this new body of water. I also wanted to question why he thinks no one likes him. He has friends in school. People like him. Why does he feel no one likes him? Only his readers, but of course they don't know it's him writing. I think I know what Seth is going to do at the party, and I really hope I'm right. Maybe it'll change Adam's mind about running away. I'm REALLY looking forward to his confrontation with his father. I really want to hear his father's explanation as to why he hasn't contacted him in all these years, and really, considering they don't live far from each other, he has no excuse. Ok, I promise I will read the next chapter in the morning.