Dodger

If there was one thing guaranteed to get me back in the pool, it was the mouthwatering prospect of teaching my best friend how to swim. It was a task that would require close physical contact with minimal clothing and in an environment where I undoubtedly had a considerable advantage. Yet, none of this seemed to worry Rory. He even agreed to do it at my house and at a time when no one else was around. I was amazed at his naivety and ashamed of my willingness to exploit it for the sake of a quick

Thank you, @Ianstarlight. Your comments are a delight to read and very eloquent. I can't thank you enough, although I have to read them two or three times to fully absorb their content. I'm sorry you had to endure the same injury as Robbie, but at the same time, I'm grateful to you for sharing your experience and relieved to know that I wasn't too far off in my attempt to put it into words.

You may be right about this; perhaps Nathan does give the impression of being over-cautious or a little too mature for his age. As you point out, this seems to be a common fault in stories featuring teenagers, and it's something that I have tried to avoid. It's an easy mistake to make, and in this case, not entirely accurate, although we are relying entirely on Robbie's perspective. I imagined Nathan's character to be quite superficial. He's very image-conscious and likes to portray himself as a bit of a rebel, although his background suggests otherwise. He has benefited from a supportive family and never had to fight his own battles, so he has had it relatively easy. In many ways, he's the opposite of Robbie, and he doesn't like getting into trouble.

Thank you, @Ianstarlight. I can assure you it does get more explicit as the story progresses, although the sex isn't always perfect as you would expect with boys this age. Of course, we can only see things from Robbie's perspective, which is sometimes a little distorted.. Unfortunately, his perceived need for acceptance and an attraction to danger make him vulnerable to people who don't always have his best interests in mind.

Thank you, @Ianstarlight, for another beautiful comment and for choosing to stick with this story. I know it's not easy to read, particularly the early chapters, which are very raw and littered with poor grammar. I'm glad you have found a connection to Robbie. Some readers have criticised him for his lack of maturity and poor decision-making, but most have been sympathetic and willing to accept that he is not perfect and doesn't pretend to be.

Thank you so much, @Ianstarlight, for your wonderful comment. Your description of Robbie is beautifully written and far better than mine. Moreover, it is remarkably accurate. If I had to choose half a dozen of my favourite comments from the thousands that have been posted on this story over the years, this would, undoubtedly, be one of them.

Whatever happens, it's clear that Robbie has developed a special bond with Rory that he hasn't been able to find with Nathan. We already knew about Robbie's secret desires, but now he's starting to reveal more. For example, he was surprised by how much it hurt him to hear Rory sounding upset on the phone. Nathan is either oblivious to the situation or he doesn't care. His reaction to Robbie running out of money will be key.

This must have been Don's plan all along, and Robbie was stupid enough to fall for it. There is some hope. A summer job may make Robbie less reliant on Don, and without Nathan around, he probably won't spend as much. Daniel knows he's being used but doesn't want to rock the boat.

I doubt if Robbie ever checked his balance, although he would have known his funds were dwindling. This is precisely what Don wanted, and he'll no doubt abuse it to his advantage. Don's favourite weapon is money, and Sue will have to fight for every penny through the courts while he makes things as difficult as possible. Maybe Nathan will step up to the plate and offer to pay the next time they go out or need to take a cab somewhere. Robbie has every right to expect this; anything less will be a hammer blow to their relationship.

Don is putting a lot of pressure on Daniel to divide the family. Daniel knows this, but he's trying to keep everyone happy, which will be impossible. Whatever role Rory ends up playing in Robbie's life, he will certainly be less of a financial burden than Nathan. If Robbie's prediction comes true, their relationship will end before Nathan can pay back some of his generosity.

I just posted Chapter 172, so there is still a way to go. I will amend the message at the end of this chapter, which is obviously misleading. Thanks for making me aware of this.

He brought it on himself. It was never going to work.

Wow! Thank you. I've lost track of time with this story.

Robbie needs to be careful not to trust him.

Especially when he calls in the middle of the night asking for money.

Conner is a bit of a control freak. Robbie will need to stand up to him and be more assertive.

It's very remote and Conner is quite controlling.

It finally happened on the last Thursday of May. That was when the cash machine at the bank spat out my card with a message on the screen informing me there were insufficient funds in my account. Fifteen months shy of my eighteenth birthday, and the money that was supposed to see me through to my inheritance was gone. Admittedly, I squandered a lot, mostly on taxis, fast food, and useless gadgets. I also bought expensive gifts for Jamie and Amy and shitloads of bling for Nathan, but I blame

Probably just a coincidence, but Jo is a valuable asset.

He has a lot of people who want to help him. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Robbie's mental health has been deteriorating for a while now, and he has been exhibiting clear signs that people around him seem to have missed. Telling Nicola was probably the best thing he could have done. He knows she won't leave him alone now, so maybe this was a cry for help.

Unfortunately not.

Robbie is also convinced there is something seriously wrong, probably relating to his head injury.

Welcome back! I missed your insightful comments, but your timing is perfect. Just when things are about to get interesting.

Symmonds is a dangerous creep.