Jaro_423

A good chapter. It has a feeling of moving on now and of looking towards summer and the future with more hope, and the sex was fun. Hope Thomas' ankle is OK after all that!

Matt's breaking down with Gina was heart-breaking. I don't think I appreciated the pain he was experiencing either. If Gina can be a good friend to him it will help him so much. Emily is a pain! And the verdict. Not bad at all. I'm inclined to agree that the issue of statutory rape with the other guys was a difficult one, though I'm not sure seduction of an older boy of younger ones should not be treated in that light. It's all a bit cloudy. So I'm still a little conflicted on that issue. If that had been all he'd done he would have been allowed off scott-free and that would not have been good. So it was good he was convicted of raping Matt. That was quite clear cut but difficult to prove.

First off, as Lisa said, Matt's parents are fantastic. I liked her comment that need to be cloned. And what was amazing was that Matt didn't rush off to have sex, but now that the responsibility was there to keep his parents informed it seems the urge was gone. Dillon is guilty and needs help. Hopefully he will get it. It is so wrong of lawyers to try to get a guilty person off the hook. Dillon and his lawyers all need to be had up for contempt of court in this. I don't know that it is possible but to me it shows the highest contempt of the institution of justice to be dishonest like this. It is no different to Matt lying to his parents!

Sad what they have to face but that's life, I guess. Matt is being very persistent with Gina and it seems it may pay off in the end. Must say, Andy is Andy, but in his own way he wants what is best for Matt and is going to go out to get that if he can. He's a good friend though he really does embarrass everyone in the process! The jury should bring a verdict of guilty on all counts against Dillon but whether they will is entirely another story. We will wait and see what they do. Jury have a way of making some pretty crass decisions. I sometimes wonder why they still use that system of justice as it really is not very just and many, many people have been unjustly convicted because of clever lawyers and muddled and confused juries who really are not equipped to decide these matters of guilt. Stupid system. It's like putting your life in the hands of the mob! Is that sensible, wise or just?

Interesting discussion on love by the boys. Thomas is pretty mature. He even seems more mature than Matt is some ways. Andy is growing up fast, but he's still seeking affirmation which he regards as love. One might say he's been love starved. Glad he has Matt to centre him. Dillon has really messed up and I think Wheeler did show he had perjured himself. If the jury takes that into account they should find him guilty on all counts. Can't wait to see what the verdict is. Doing a great job. Still enjoying the story - more than ever.

Wow! No reviews!? Dillon went for broke. I guess if you going to lie you might as well do a really good job on it and make it all a lie. Wow! He surely will be found out somewhere on this and went there's a crack then the whole thing will be undermined and he'll come down big time. Well Andy had Thomas or the other way round. Thomas is very mature and likeable but I can't see him staying with Andy or answering the call again. Not sure why Andy is so intent on having a boyfriend. Is it a last ditch attempt to not be a boy whore?

Matt is not really helping himself to come out of confusion. He likes Thomas. He wants sex with Thomas (actually he wants sex period). He'll happily have sex with Andy because it'a a given, so for him a threesome is just great for his sexual drive, and he gets a chance to experience Thomas without commitment. He's getting a bit like Andy was! I don't think Thomas and Andy will work at all, but Thomas and Matt would work if Matt would let it. I can't see Matt and Gina ever working. If by chance Gina gave in to him, I don't see him finding sex with a girl at all significant after he's experienced sex with a guy (but then I guess I'm guy prejudiced!) Who knows? Perhaps he is bi and will find girls really flick his switch. Gina is never going to be happy with his sex drive though, and if he's bi she'll still not be happy with that, so he ought to forget the chance of a sexual relationship with her. Rather try to cultivate her friendship (if that's possible).

It's been interesting following the trial, but it will be more interesting seeing how the defence plans to get Dillon out of this hole. I fail to see how the fact of the boys being into sex really excuses Dillon at all. The only thing that will get him off is if there's some reasonable doubt that he forced Matt (which there could be since there are no witnesses to that so its Matt's word against Dillon). I rather agree with whoever said they couldn't really understand why having sex up to the day before you turned 18 was OK but now a day later that you were 18 it was a problem, and Andy wanted it to go on, as did Randy. Maybe Thomas didn't. So Dillon can't really be held accountable for having sex with minors. It's so stupid that whole thing. But rape is serious and he should not be allowed to get away with that. If it weren't for Coach G they would be having a much worse time of it. This is hard and they can't really do a whole heap other than suck it up and get on with their lives. Things will eventually quieten down. As for Emily and Gina, one can really understand how they would be thoroughly pissed off. It seems though they might capitulate, or at least Emily might.

Randy was Randy in court. It's hard to take him seriously, really! Poor Matt. He really put up with a lot. Not surprising he broke down. And Coach Gilbert! What a man! Wow! He knew how to get through to the guys and put them all in their place in such a great way as to humble them but not humiliate them. That was so good. How the world needs a ton more like him.

Thomas doing a great job in the court room still in spite of the grilling he's getting. Matt's having a hard time. I wonder if Gina will come to accept him. Hard to know. Andy was really so good with Jason. Such wise advice. A good chapter.

Sad that all but Ollie are rejecting them. Ollie is a treasure! But this is typical of the teens. Loyalites don't run deep at that age as a general rule. As soon as one's world becomes threatened all loyalites are quickly forgotten. They must move on non the less. Some to their friends might eventually come round if things settle down. Interestingly they are getting lots of closet cases coming quietly to them. Hope they are careful in that and helpful. Thomas was great at the trial and gave a good account of himself in spite of the sad tale. I think he will certainly seem credible to the jury and they are likely to be sympathic to him rather than Dillon.

So much food for thought here, especially on bringing up kids, and more especially handling teens. We know Dillon's parents failed though we don't see the details of that. Spoiling by over indulging, giving expensive gifts, making much materialism available and not being there in person for you child are all the problems that Dillon had. Matt's folk are other end of the scale and don't indulge him but are there for him. They will win through in the end though even when parents do the best they know how it doesn't mean all is going to be fine. Andy's parents are not there for him but that is changing and it is probably not too late for them to make huge amends and help Andy at what is the most difficult time of growing up.

Well, the truth has this way of coming out in the end. Very sad chapter for all concerned. I think Matt is in the biggest hole ever since he's lied to his parents on a number of occasions and most recently the night before. But his parents may be the most forgiving in the end. Andy's parents pretty much know what he was into though the number of liaisons and the details may have been totally shocking. I could have kicked that defence counsel who pleaded Dillon's life being ruined and then proceeded to do his utmost to ruin Andy's life. What a dick! What a shit-head! I'm really mad with him. The shit has really hit the fan and Randy hasn't even taken the stand. By the time he comes whatever he has to say will be an anti-climax and maybe they won't even call him. It seems that Kyle was a plant since the defence seemed to know about Andy's liaison with him and Randy. I had worried that he might be. I look forward to seeing how the parents deal with all of this. I actually think Andy's parents are going to be better than Matt's at handling all this. But we will see.

That was an amazing chapter and really went in all directions. First Matt and Thomas and the confusion that left in Matt. Then Andy having discovered them but not revealed his presence. I think he was right too that it showed his love for them both. I'm crying thinking about Andy and the end to that chapter with his telling of Matt's giving himself for Andy that first time. It was beautiful. You would have to be an extreme homophobe (as there might well be on the jury) in order not to be moved by his testimony. Of course, between these was the awful questioning in which the whole story of Andy's sex life came out. A very bitter sweet chapter, but the ending was so incredibly sweet (not in a yucky sentimental way, but in a deep soothing, satisfying way). I think this makes so much right. I wonder how the parents are feeling, especially Matt's parents, and how they will deal with all of this. Wow! But I have to say well done to Andy and his legal counsel for finishing on such a good note. And, of course, well done to the author for engineering it!!! A very good chapter!

Poor Andy having to make a public confession of his sex life. How humiliating. But he is good and bounces back and gives the defence a hard time. I did laugh at his thinking the judge was going to have an objection to his harrassing the defence. Typical Andy. Even if he goes down, he'll do it giving his best shot and smiling, maybe. One can't help liking his spunk.

Wow. I see lots of reviews here. Something must have been stirred by the hot chapter! It was very good. And Andy was good at the trial too. As he said, he left some stuff out but didn't really lie. I like that! But the defence could be something else. Must read on to see what happens. You do a great job. Thanks for writing!

Technically the boys only fooled around and had their foursome after the Dillon thing. Even though this might come out at the trial it should have no bearing on the facts of what happened prior as a good lawyer could make a case for the boys doing this as a result of being corrupted by Dillon. It should work against Dillon not for him. Trials at best are nerve wracking affairs for those participating. Poor Matt. An aggressive cross-examiner might be doing his job, but if he's hell bent on twisting the truth he needs to be hauled over the coals. Brow beating a 15 year old whose claiming to have been raped is not on whichever way you look at it. Makes one lose more respect than ever for asshole lawyers like this. Make my blood boil. Isn't there something about minors not being forced to testify anyway? How come they are required to do this?

I must say that Randy always concerned me when it came to Dillon's trial and what he is threatening doesn't surprise me in the least, though he might end up blackmailing them instead. That would be just like him and he knows they would pay up. One thing is certain, this trial is not going to lack for interest and scandal. Matt has turned into another Andy with his sex drive. Seems once its unleashed it's a monster difficult to control, especially if you a hormone over-charged teenager. So the time of fasting has made his drive increase not lesson. Oh dear. And where is he going with Thomas telling him he likes him more than Gina, though I guess that's not really surprising. This definitely shows which team he's on without a doubt as it's probably the first time he's admitted it to someone else, albeit indirectly. But what of Andy and Matt? Much as I like Thomas I'm not sure I want him to replace Andy in Matt's affections.

I really liked that poem you ended this section with. Wow! Andy really took a bad battering from Evan. Is he also going to be put on trial? Matt has been a true friend to Andy. Glad he was there when Randy and Kyle came, and so glad they got rid of them, hopefully for good. Andy doesn't need those sort of people influencing him.

A great chapter. Ollie was a star and Andy, Matt and Co were so good to have supported him to the point he was able to stand up to the bullies and they respected him for doing so. Wow! And Andy told his folks about Randy, though you rather glossed over that one. I would have liked to have seen how that went and what his parents said. Or didn't he tell the too much. I guess that's how he tackled it perhaps. Anyway, one chapter to go on this story so not sure how you going to conclude this part.

Great chapter. Great quote. Too tired to think and write more. Thanks for writing.

Andy is really coming into his own and out shining Matt at the moment. He's a more out going character, but he's becoming a confident leader too. Wow! And his firm stand on Ollie conforming to the acceptable dress was quite amazing. I really thought he was out of line and being as much of a bully as the other jerks, but turns out he might just be making a lot of sense here. And what was amazing was that Ollie having been accepted as little bro now agreed to take his advice/order and conform. Wow! I'm amazed. And already it seems nobody is on his case. We'll have to see how that goes.

Seems you missed replying to Lisa's review again. Great essay Matt writes and then is a little (not very much though) convicted that he did not live up to his own recommendation. But Andy did and that was enough for Matt to forgive him. Wow! And Thomas did too. So Matt who really should have led the way is shown up by his two buddies, who show that they have the courage to be different. Very interesting. Somtimes Matt doesn't come up to scratch.

Andy is finally growing up! Such a tender scene with his dad doing something together. It's really great and will do wonders for building Andy's self esteem and confidence. He acts such a prick at times because he is insecure. Wow! And Matt is really rubbing it in and making Andy suffer long for his misdemeanour. I do think this is good though. As Matt has said he doesn't want to go on forgiving and forgiving and forgiving while Andy doesn't take responsibility for his actions. And Andy is learning his lessons. I think he's shocked by Matt's actions and they may be just what he needs to think long and hard and come to his senses.

I started a review half way through the chapter so must paste that across from Word. I was just so moved by Andy's part in the chapter. You really got to me! Damn! I’m in tears. Your bit about Andy has cut me up so much and the way his dad handled it and then told him he loved him. It was too much. I guess I’m feeling that because my dad was so distant and I don’t remember him ever telling me that he loved me, though I know he must have in his own way. This was such a real chapter too where Andy is just so pissed off he tells his parents the truth hoping to shock the socks off them, which he does, though his dad comes through that and calls him out by going along with all his shit. Wow! That was an incredibly brave thing to do but it worked for Andy. I think if it had been me, I would have told my dad to get the ticket. Andy’s reaction here shows that there’s still that spark of goodness in him; that he can come right; that some of these knots are not impossible. And if his dad now stands by him he can get through and be stronger and better. God, I hope so. I really like Andy and I want him to come right side up. And then Andy's confessing to Matt and asking for forgiveness. It is touching. Matt of course is resisting, but has just had the sermon on forgiveness, so we know he'll come through in the end. Andy must know he's fucked up big time and that it's going to take a lot for Matt to forgive him. Their friendship cannot ever be quite the same, but as Matt realizes it's too precious to throw away. A friendship that weathers and comes through these kind of storms ends up being so much stronger and better than it was before. The contrast with the parents and their upbringing of their sons is good too, showing how Matt's parents have nurtured him whereas Andy's have not. Any wonder that Andy is lost and confused and looking in the wrong places for security. Loving the story. Thanks again.