Lisa

Yes, I saw it when I clicked on the link. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to watch it here. Maybe it's only for viewing in France? This song definitely grows on you. I didn't realize what it was about until someone explained it to me. =) I guess I never really listened to the words.

Bummer, clochette, the video won't play in the states.

Ah, Tim, you have me and lmao!!! You're too funny! Tis true, I have not read that one yet.

Tim, you write the best reviews! I'm putting this story on my "To Read" list, thanks to this review. I've read some things by Percy, and I agree that he's a very good writer.

I ditto everyone, Owl. Family comes first. Don't worry about writing; you have more important things to worry about. We will be here when you're ready, don't worry. We know it will be worth the wait, anyway!

I read your response to dr's review from the previous chapter (I think it was dr! lol). Anyway...here's a link to a post Cia made a few years ago. It's definitely worth a read so you can get your dialogue punctuation straightened out. I noticed you put a comma at the end of a sentence when it should be a period when there's no dialogue. In these instances, after the ending quotation marks, you continue the sentence with an action. If there is no dialogue tag (he said, she asked), then you need a period at the end of the dialogue, right before the ending quotation marks. For example: "Max, I'll take you to the hospital." Aaron guided Max toward his car. Or: "Max, I'll take you to the hospital," Aaron said. See the difference? Here's the link to Cia's thread: http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/37092-dialogue-punctuation/ On to the review! lol I hope Aunt Elizabeth will get the use of her arm and leg again. That's such a scary thing to have happened to her. The scene at Aaron's house when his mom hugged Max and held him while he cried really got me choked up. He hasn't had any emotional support until very recently. All of a sudden his aunt is acting well, like an aunt should! Fourteen years is a helluva long time for any child to go without any emotional support and physical closeness from family. I hope we find out what Aaron and his mom are talking about...

Drpaladin is absolutely correct; you never write a number to start or end a sentence. Max told Alice his 'parents died when he was 3.', should have been three. Also...since we're on the subject, if you don't mind, you keep using 'their' for 'there'; I noticed it in at least two spots in this chapter and the previous chapter. Anyway...back to the story! lol I hope we find out what happened to Aunt Elizabeth. I'm relieved for Max that she's going to be ok. And what happened in Aaron's past that he hates the hospital? I mean, I hate ALL hospitals, but he hates this one in particular. Why?

Oh no! What happened to Aunt Elizabeth? I hope she's gonna be ok - she's the only family Max has left!

Another chill-inducing poem, totallyy. I read it a few times and each time brought chills. Very well-written and thought provoking. =)

Well, you already know how sad I am over Ron's death, sacred. Poor Jake. And of course having his b/f, the person that he loved most in this world, die on his birthday, is horrible. He will always remember his birthday as now the saddest day of the year, instead of the happiest. I wonder what will happen now with Jake? I'm afraid he'll go off the deep end and close everyone off and just suffer in his own private hell. I hope his friends don't let him do that. He needs his friends by his side, now more than ever. I did like Zune's talk with Stephen. I'm glad Stephen came to Jake's b-day party. Maybe he can accept Ed and Kevin's apologies and learn to coexist with them. Terrific chapter, sacred. You certainly know how to pull on my heartstrings. lol

Wow, so many of them I didn't know. Thanks, Cia!

Excuses, excuses! I don't think you'll live this one down, Cia! J/K I look forward to your blog about grammar, punctuation, and the like, because I'm always trying better myself, and I have learned from your postings, Cia, so thank you.

Love 'em both, Addy! In the first poem, I like the birds singing early in the morning because now it's spring and they can sing! lol The second poem was just beautiful: one person knowing he will always be strong as long as his partner is by his side.

Almost a month late, but better late than never, right? lol This was another beautiful story, Cassie. I absolutely love the way you word things: '...wrapped his blanket of guilt around him...' Ok, I paraphrased that b/c I can't remember exactly how the line went, but it was beautiful. Derek was drowning in his guilt. It seemed he was constantly feeling guilty. Did he go through the angry stage yet? He should have felt anger, like Alex did, at Ethan. Ethan was supposed to stay sober. Derek wasn't there to babysit Ethan and make sure he didn't drink; he was there to be able to drink all he wanted. As Alex said, Ethan endangered both of them, unfortunately killing himself in the process, and leaving Derek guilt-ridden and almost non-functioning. Alex is a wonderful friend. He'll stay with Derek no matter what, b/c that's what friends are supposed to do. He's fallen for Derek and made the mistake of letting Derek know, but I think in the end, it won't matter. Derek needs Alex so much right now, and he's not going to turn Alex away b/c of what he confessed. Maybe in time (a long time), Derek will fall for Alex too. First though, Derek has to heal. His scars on his body may be healing, but his heart needs to heal now. Beautiful story, Cassie. I really love your writing.

Max picked a great car! I can't believe Aaron set Max up when he ordered that really spicy meal. He could have at least told him it was spicy! lol I noticed Aunt E is acting so different; she's been so nice and generous lately. Why isn't she ignoring Max like she's done for years?

How'd I miss this chapter? It was so cute the way Aaron 'woke Max up', lol, snicker, snicker. He sure did wake him up.

Hope it all went well today, Lacey.

I didn't finish reading the chapter yet, but I just had to comment... Dr. Spiegel is in her fifties, but she's referred to as an 'old woman'???? lol Ok, gotta finish now.

Holy shit! Poor Ezra! I think his father has to start giving that Luke guy his Friday ritual. I think Ezra's father needs to give Luke the same shit he gives Ezra. Jesus - Ezra doesn't have any good role models - every male adult betrays him.

Oh shit, is Gabriel gonna live???? Did the bus driver not see him? Damn, what a way to end the chapter! lol

Omg, Jon, you're killing me here!!! Penis Head (can I steal that, Carrie?), FINALLY writes something worthy in a text, and Corbin STILL takes cutie-pie Nick to his room. No, no, no, no!!!! Bad Corbs!!! And Corbin, Pete DID contact you; he texted you when Hutch texted you, and you decided Pete's text can wait. Idiot! Rip the fucking band-aid off FIRST!!!!! I think Tim's right; Nick could be in love with Corbs, or at least crushing on him. Now he's gonna play with his emotions. Tsk, tsk, tsk, Corbs. As much as I love reading about Nick (he is a cutie-pie, after all), Corbin's heart and head aren't with Nick; they're with Penis Head. Oh! And I don't know why, but I always thought Nick was gay. Maybe it's because he was always flirting with Corbs that gave me that idea. The whole Dominick/Hutch/Corbin frat (sorry, fraternity), politics just goes way over my head! lol I will never understand the inner workings of a fraternity, and all I get out of it is that Corbin will use whomever he wants to just to get ahead. This of course, will most likely continue into his working life. That's the one part of Corbs I don't care for. He's so into the hierarchy of the fraternity, and being on the highest committee and having all the power that he'll use his best friends (Hutch), and an innocent freshman ho (Lee), just to get what he wants. I do have to tell you, Jon, that the beginning of the chapter about the broken heart and how you can't hear it breaking into pieces, you can only feel it, was written so beautifully. And it's so true. I think that whole section should be on a Hallmark card or something, like a 'I'm sorry that scumbag left you' type of card or a divorce card or something. Seriously though, it was really beautifully written. Well, I continue to be on pins and needles until the next chapter. Will Corbs go through with boffing Nick? Will he get a conscience and tell him no? Will he text Penis Head back? All these questions! Inquiring minds (ok, mine), want to know!!!

I'm stoked that you're posting here! Someone (maybe it was Ricky, I don't remember), gave a link to your site in one of the forum threads and I've read the story up to chapter thirteen. Now I can read it from the beginning to re-familiarize myself with it.

I've never read Mark's stories, but I love RJ's stories and JoAnn's stories. I especially love the stories centered around her, Cassie, and KC; they are laugh-out-loud funny.

Awww, Aunt Elizabeth! She DOES have a heart!!!

What a sweet boss Martin has! He went through all the trouble of getting these Easter costumes and getting all the eggs for the egg hunt, and writing names of songs on the eggs, and all he wants is for his customers to have fun. I'm glad Roman got into the Easter spirit and came dressed up. Now Martin doesn't feel so strange being in costume. I'm looking forward to their dinner!!