Dodger

There's not much I can say without compromising the story, but it will end with a bang rather than die slowly!

He is definitely a schemer and doesn't mind misleading people to gain an advantage or to make himself feel better, as is the case with Walter. He also has a few anger issues that get him into trouble, but probably not a violent temper, as described by Nathan. In his physical confrontations, i.e., Alex and Mitch, he usually comes off worse.

Dated, probably, although Robbie doesn't get many opportunities to visit gay websites. Walter is very well-connected.

Nicola would never have allowed it. It would have denied her the opportunity to boss Robbie around and get involved.

The Cobourg Centennial Pool was an unassuming thirty-metre-by-six-lane-wide shallow body of water that, for three months a year, masqueraded as a swimming pool. It was situated behind the trailer park, by the main entrance to the beach, but despite its prime location, it attracted relatively few visitors and was considered uncool by the town’s teenagers. The pool was surrounded by a chain-link fence and accessed via a plain, single-storey brick building that housed basic changing rooms, sho

Thank you, Ian for a wonderful and insightful comment. I think it's fair to say that artificial intelligence has surprised everyone with the rapid pace of its development and you're right to feel unsettled because it threatens everyone. I have used it to compliment the story visually, but I feel the need to point out to anyone reading this that the storyline has not been contaminated in any way or influenced by artificial intelligence. That is and always will be a product of my own twisted imagination. I think the length of time between chapters, the enormous plot holes, and sometimes mass of irrelevant text should be all the proof you need, but joking aside it is genuinely scary for anyone in the business of creating, at any level, amatuer of professional. It's difficult to know for certain whether this monster we have created will end up turning on us or if we will be able to somehow control and limit its abilities, but only a fool would ignore it completely because it isn't going to go away. Exciting times or the end of time. We won't have to wait that long to find out.

This is a word that really sounds like its meaning.

Most of the loose ends will be tied, but not all of them.

I think Robbie and Rory need each other even if it's only as friends. Rory seems to be just as stubborn as Robbie, or maybe he's too infatuated with this girl to think about the friendship he's losing. If his girlfriend figures out that Rory isn't entirely straight, then she could be doing all she can to turn him against Robbie, whom she will view as a serious threat. If this is the case, then she's likely to win, and their friendship will be over, or maybe, as you pointed out, she won't be able to float his boat. Then Rory will have to take a good, long look in the mirror and make a decision, if it's not too late.

Thank you @Ggg for reading and commenting.

Thanks @chris191070. Stephanie is used to getting what she wants.

Probably the dumbest move ever, but it doesn't let Robbie off the hook, and he will still feel partly responsible.

Thank you @Gangsta6566 for your first comment. It pleases me to know there are still people who are invested in this story, and I'm glad you decided to share your thoughts and opinions. It's frustrating for me too because anything I say at this stage, even the slightest hint, will give everything away and compromise the ending. With this in mind, there are still a few chapters left for you or anyone else to comment on. I'm trying to whip up a bit of interest for the grand finale.

Possibly at the same time!

Thank you for the feedback. It was fun for me to do and a learning experience, but I wasn't sure how it would be received, especially this late in the story. I know readers have their own mental images of the characters, so I've deliberately avoided giving too many descriptions. The characters in the gallery are only how I see them. I'm not trying to change people's perception. AI has made this possible, and it's moving forward at a ridiculous pace, but I'm also very worried and under no illusions about the threat it poses. Anyone involved in the arts or in creating original content at any level should be concerned about AI, because this is only the tip of the iceberg. Despite all the advantages, it's a poisoned chalice, and if I had a choice, I would prefer a world without it.