Love the interaction between Emmett and his brother - sweet, and really conveys the brotherly love between them. I had a friend in college who was asexual, similar to how Huan-Yu sounds. He had issues with people thinking it was just some sort of "hormonal issue" (which it wasn't) or some other issue that should be "fixed."
I'd have to agree w. César -- he might have "his head screwed on straight" but he's still just 15; and a lot of adults could loose it when faced with the animosity (passive from his mother, active from the step-dad) he's going to face.
"Awkward" couldn't begin to describe what Sean must have been feeling. Feel bad for Doc too. Knowing something is true, and hoping it isn't, then getting hit in the face with it.
Defiantly an interesting start to the story. One wonders what dad does for a living - and why Derek didn't seem that happy about the "I love you" comment.
Love the talk of the boys on the bikes and why they were so loud - and says a lot about Ms-Thorn-in-the-Side that she only heard 'noise' where Patrick heard 'upset' Hope the meeting with Fiona goes well. Like his idea to casually drop "husband" and see her reaction.
Great chapter. Will be interesting to hear what Moster has to say about the mad woman next door - though we already had hints she was going to be an issue. As for grandmother...... at times you can love someone, but still need to cut them off and reduce or eliminate contact with them.
Neighbor lady will be a problem. People like that are never happy running only their own lives (though for most of them, you could probably just end that sentence after "happy").
Loved this chapter. Think you nailed the interaction with the social worker. Any decent one who cared about their job would have done what she did and checked both of them out before the meeting.