ColumbusGuy

I can sympathise with the shoving and book thing Will is going through--it happened t ome in middle school, and a little in high school. Not because I was gay--which no one knew--but because I was shy and nerdy with thick glasses. I think it was the first day of my sophomore year when a guy knocked my books out of my hands before classes, and I went off on him, and shoved him hard so that he fell down in the hall before classes. A teacher told him and whoever pushed him to report to the principal's office. Since no one saw me, I could have stayed quiet, but I followed him to the office. We each told our sides of the story, and the principal--it was his first day--looked at our records and told me he'd let it go this time, but I'd get punished if he saw me again. I think he remembered me from 6th grade maybe, when he was one of my teachers. I wasn't picked on as much after that, which was nice, but I still didn't make a lot of friends. Keep up the story, Elias!

Just found this, G-Man, thanks to the update list. Once again, you weave words in a way which puts the rest of us in the dust following your lead. Of course it was just like you not to tell me you'd started this while I was away. I'm sure I'll run out of likes pretty soon. I sense that this might be the author's voice in your head trying to make itself heard above the raucous voices of your characters demanding their turns.

Loved the part with Matt and Chuck--he's really giving him an education--but he's also making sure that Chuck enjoys every aspect of it. I hope Matt will consider Chuck as a real boyfriend in time...they could work well together. So Burch got killed? Hmm, wonder if it was done by someone who is out to protect the evil Pastor Enos? Wouldn't be a surprise, and it means David isn't safe either. No comments on David or Twoey until they wise up and dump the losers they are with.

Yay, another chapter! Alas, I'm out of likes already, so I'll have to come back. Peter and Patrick are so good together--I'm glad there are no secrets between them, and that Peter believes Patrick is sincere about his special abilities. I'm hoping that the two will have a long and happy life together, with Michael growing into a loving man like his fathers. Eager for more, min ven...your chapters always make my heart glow with a special warmth.

This is a wonderful story, Caz! I'm so glad that Louis got part of his faculties back...but they will still need their bond to really communicate. Please give us more spinoffs, or even a new book to this awesome series--I'm all caught up and love this island almost as if I lived there!

Wow, Caz, I wasn't expecting Louis to be deaf or mute. This is going to be interesting!

Great chapter, Graeme--and I don't feel that Ty is over-reacting to what Ross is doing. Ty is a true friend and is legitimately concerned when he sees his friends being insulted. It's up to Ross to loosen up--he doesn't have to appear to hate gay people, just treat them like anybody else and he'd have no problem--it's his paranoia that is the real problem. If he were to tell HIm his real reasons, I'd be insulted even more--it shows how immature Ross is if he fears guilt by association--that's so middle school. Neil's mom is well on the way to ruining any chance of reconciling with her son, and if her husband won't confront her about it, why should she change? Neil, keep your distance from them until signs are more positive from both of them. Kevin is very interesting, whether he turns out to have a gay or bisexual element to his personality, the adventure on Friday will be fun. He's a cool guy and I'm hoping he'll have a good time with Warwick.

Yay, Vash is a lion--the king of cats--I'm so glad he's not another wolf. Nothing wrong with wolves of course, but I'm a cat person, and finding shifters who are felines is rare. Loving the story so far, Caz!

So that's what happened to Casey and Jamie's mom. Very sad, but at least it was an accident and not some plot. I guess we'll find out who Vash is at least, and why he was so mistreated. I hope Casey and Jackson can work something out--both have been pretty stupid, but it's understandable.

Of course, a shifter story from you is going to be something different--not being in a family of them will severely impact Kellar's experience. I doubt he'll be going back to his foster home again, unless it's to grab clothes. Is he going to find others like himself? A lover? Any sort of acceptance if he does? Come on G-Man, you've got a lot of questions brewing here--let's get this thing moving! Could it be I'm already hooked--you bet your ass!

Yay, another chapter! It's nice to see Derik and Tanner again, and I hope he doesn't stress himself out over the thought that he might be using Chris--Mitch is clearly an idiot in the same class as the bullies. Did he ever really care about Chris if he's acting this way? More please!

I hope there are going to be more stories, or even another book! I love this group and want to hear more about them!

I'm glad Toph has met with Austin and Niko...even if he doesn't see them in future, he's left them both in a good place where each knows the value of the bonds they share. Oscar is doing wonderful things to broaden Toph's horizons both artistically and emotionally...he's just the paternal figure that's been missing in Toph's life. Is Gary going to be the love bond that's been missing? I think it's too early to tell, there is still a lot of tension which needs resolution there.

Well, Toph has surpassed me--I could draw and sketch, but painting was my oldest sister's major talent. Alas, we had the same art teacher in high school ten years apart, and I had to disappoint her expectations. I was amazed to learn that she still had a couple of my sister's work when she died. Poor Gary, he's just had his hopes dashed of becoming closer to Toph--at least for now.

I like Toph getting settled in his new life, but his social skills need work. Being invisible isn't going to work among real people...they want to be friends, which he will have to get used to. Loving it so far, gotta wonder if Toph has no gaydar, or if it's broken. Gary seems interested in him, and Anders wants them to get along, hinting at the possibility of there being more going on, which means he's open-minded as well.

Just discovered this story through the update list...I like it so far, and have a lot of sympathy for Christopher. HIs family reminds me of how my classmates at college must have been raised--almost all of them from well-off Eastern families who sent their children to a private university for status. So many of them partied, I thought it was hard to see how they could graduate. We had the usual sports teams, but they mostly sucked...but there were ritzier ones too like lacrosse and tennis. I went to a few parites at frats or sororities sponsored by people in some of my classes, but that life was so fake it was insane. I did have a lot of fun attending group meetings on history, German club and and concerts though. Thanks to small class sizes, we got to know our professors in most cases, and I came out first to one of my English professors in her Women in Literature class. She was very supportive This is a far cry from 18 Weeks...on to Chapter 2!

WolfM, this chapter hit all the right buttons: Christmas, friendship, and the expression of love and commitment via the wedding. The offer of being a surrogate puts a whole new range of possibilities in the future...it would be wonderful for the guys to be fathers, and I think they would do a great job of it...but they need a little time to grow into their relationship before taking on that respoinsibility. Dang, do we really have to wait a week for the next one?

I love this one, Tim! With Nelson's help, I think Eric would make a good GSA president, and I'm sure his family would give him help too. It would look very good on college application forms. You know, I hope Rob does ask Trevor to the Prom...it would help the GSA's image, and give a shot in the eye to Mel and her bigoted friends--being dumped for a guy--hilarious even if it isn't really a true date. More please!!

This was a nice ending to Book V, but I sense a lot of unanswered questions are in store for the next one. I really hope Andy and Matt can make their relationship work after all they've gone through to get there. Matt still seems a little too quick to remove possibilities from the table--that is still tied up in his overwhelming regard for social appearances--it's okay to be gay and in a relationship with Andy as long as he can still present a straight face to the world. He has yet to realize that unconditional love is just that, and what others may think ought to have no impact on it. Eager for the next volume, my friend!

Well, it seems Matt might have come to accept his real relationship with Andy, but I'm not holding my breath that it will last with his track record. As for Jason, with parents like his, I'm very surprised he doesn't have far more problems than he seems to--constant interrogation and attention makes him very insecure as to his own abilities to handle situations. I think he is in great danger from himself if they don't back off.

Well, Andy tries to do the right thing, and once again life conspires to ruin it. The four bullies will come out smelling like roses to their friends, and Jason will bear the brunt of the fallout, true or not. I really hope he doesn't find a need to take the extreme way out--but he wouldn't be the first in such circumstances. Worse still, Andy is going to blame himself for what has happened in the end, once he sees how reluctant Jason was to meet with him.

Well, they were certainly lucky the action was over when Colt's parents came home--a hot tub is pretty innocent even if you're naked--especially if your parents don't know you're a sex fiend like Colt is. Even so, I don't see that this was such a good idea...diets are hard things to start if you don't have the will to pass up that one last dessert.

Okay, so Matt has gone to the appointment, but he still has problems facing his real issues. He says he's gay now, but his problem has always been in not being able to handle what being in a relationship really means. His parents have given him some pretty uninvolved examples of one, and he doesn't really know what a healthy one is. I see more rounds of blaming others for his own problems ahead, alas.

Well, Elias, I'm all caught up with this one, I hope it isn't going to be 'On Hold' for long. I'm eager to learn what happens with Will, and am glad he's got Jennifer to help him cope. I really get his point about videos making him think coming out was a good thing, and maybe it would have been in another place...but at least it isn't worse. Writing to an older man to seek mentoring is a brave thing, and could be a great help to him. Overwhelming events can often be given a little more human scale when viewed from another frame of reference, which Will badly needs. More please, my friend! I have to find where I left off with Knots V, and get caught up there too.

I'm glad that Will has found someone brave enough to be his friend...I guess his family's treatment could have been worse, but his dad blowing his college fund was really low. I hope Will can maintain his grades and get out of that town!