Sammy Blue

YET the vast majority of 15 y/o think about sex all day. While only few actually have a lot of sex, it does not mean that there is a reason to sentence it wrong. I remember back to that time very well. I had at least two friends who wouldn't even really cum (only some liquid) at age of 14/15. But a good friend of mine knew he was gay at 9 and became sexually active very early. Everyone develops differently and the age of consent is nothing other than a try to draw a line. But this can never capture all possibilities. People keep forgetting that when dealing with someone like Will. The question should be: is sex consensual or not consensual/harming? Will is very premature and that actually reflects the general prematurity in our time. It is a fact that puberty starts earlier and earlier. He is also good looking, rich, and independent. Everyone would do the same thing or at least something similar in his position. I think Will knows very well that this can't buy him happiness, nothing without love can. Actually, I think, most of his encounters are nothing else than an alternative for masturbation. Age of consent in Germany is 14, although there is an additional paragraph for persons below 16 and among 21, which says that it is illegal 'if the lack of maturity is taken advantage of'. There have been cases with sex between 14 and 13 y/o but those are (in any case that I know of) dropped because it is 'negligible'. (There are a few other things, such as the whole 'custodian' thing and 'providing opportunity' that basically says that you may not provide opportunity or encourage sex between persons below 16 (as in letting them sleep in the same room, other than if you are a parent as for that matter- but other than that it is too difficult to go into that.) But! Sexual abuse is sexual abuse. Rape is rape. However, consensual sex is consensual sex and hence should be treated as such. I I think that is the right way of dealing with this, not only when it comes to the law, but also when it comes to how you see someone like Will. Nobody complains about a 13 y/o beating off. What exactly is the difference between beating off and having sex with someone else? As long as it is not abuse / lack of maturity/ etc. playing into it. That is not the case with Will. He is a predator and I simply don't see anything wrong with it. Also, if I remember correctly Will was pretty much always safe, wasn't he? He is way more responsible than Matt for example... When I read those scenes with Matt and unprotected sex I was banging my head against the wall and almost took a break from reading because I was so mad at him - especially because I started reading CAP when 9/11 was already being written. Hence I read the dreadful events of the 80's only days/hours before I came to Bloodlines. I might be babbling and wrong but someone please tell me: what's the deal with consensual sex, no matter if at age 15 or 20? Edit: Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. ^^

That's two different things though (for some people). Matt is an adult, legally, hence he can do 'what he wants'. People mind Will's fucking around because of the age. It's not legal and people don't take maturity but a number (age on paper) as criterion to judge. I think, the funny thing is that Will actually seems to be one who is more mature. I just don't see Will having a problem with being monogamous. That's just not him. The only problem people have, I think, is that it's not 'appropriate' for his age, or am I wrong here? I don't really get the age of consent in California (or the US in general) anyway. Especially because the mindset 'the later the better' and 'abstinence is the best prevention' doesn't really seem to work anyway. I'm glad we have different laws over here. ^^ Anyway, I wasn't as bad as Will, but I did do a lot of stuff when I was his age, so I can hardly judge him...

I'm not sure if it is about the age, or about the general driving mentality over here, and the relatively long and difficult way you have to go in order to get your license, but at least my experience is exactly the other way around. As far as I know, among all my friends and acquaintances around my age (18-25) (and those are many), there is nobody who has ever been in an accident with damage to persons. I know there have been one or two 'accidents' with minor, almost negligible damage to the car and that goes with the fact that every American (exchange student) I had ever visiting said they would not dare driving on those streets because they thought it was/we were crazy. I will never understand how you can give a driver's license to someone who is 15 or 16. Then again, most Americans will probably never understand how it can be perfectly fine when a group of teens that age gets wasted in public and nobody even gives it a second look. I think it is okay... ^^ well to a certain degree, at least. We did it a lot that age, not everyone does, but there are enough who do. I guess that is why I love reading these stories, especially CAP, and also the discussion on the forums. It teaches me a lot about how different things are viewed in different cultures/countries. --- I think that does make sense. Even if he doesn't end up in Cali, I think I understand him better now, if that is what he is really doing. I don't like it though. I fear that he will ultimately take far more than he gives back.

The part with JJ was really beautiful. JJ ist cute It felt like a first deep look behind JJ's surface instead of just seeing little things peaking through it. I have to agree with what was said before, I don't like Zach and i don't know if that second part had any particular purpose but so far it feels out of place to me. I hope hope Zach vanishes so I don't have to care about him anymore.

Seeing him try would make an interesting chapter... maybe around next April 1st?

Oh my God, sorry, Carlos I mean, you just so made my day :D Maybe we should call it IN WADE though, then we can INWADE Afghanistan, too. And it would fit better to all the sex he has with Matt. :D (Oook that was bad, but I can't help it x.x Damn freshmen parties/alcohol)

I actually doubt that, it is what his own father did when his brother Aaron 'died'. Frank should know exactly what alcoholism can cause - even if it wouldn't change him in that way, he should be very careful when it comes to alcohol.

LOL poor Adam.

The hothead and the bitch? Maybe even living in the same house or close? You guys don't really want to see that do you? I wonder who will strangle the other one first. LOL maybe it's not that bad but I don't really see it happening. I don't remember them having any connection and I think Ace would react towards JJ a lot like Darius does. To me that sounds rather explosive than curing. Also I think for Ace to be a father figure they would need to be close and I don't see JJ relocating to Palo Alto any soon. (Maybe if Brad has an ice rink built next to Escorial ) But someone HAS TO be there for JJ, sooner or later. I hope rather sooner than later because things won't get better by themselves. (methodwriter, that was a really good explanation to JJ's behaviour, especially the part about how he must think of himself) Will has been there now and then but that won't do it on long term, especially with them living apart. Cody? Did Cody have any patience and understanding for JJ? I don't remember that right now, but maybe he will see things differently now and try to help JJ and be there for him? Maybe Brad will find a new partner sooner than we thought and that one will be there for JJ then? Who knows... :3 Another thought: I think we can be glad that JJ doesn't really do any drugs and that he has not much contact to that scene. If he had access to those I fear we would have an OD incident very soon. I hope nothing of the like happens. I mean, it's actually possible that Mark goes there, but I really think the kid has been through enough.

I think while that is an easy solution, I really enjoy the interaction of Will and JJ, like for example when JJ stood up for Will by leaving his signet ring on the dining table at Escorial, or how Will and JJ dealt with the abuse of JJ, or on the bus on their way out of NYC. (Maybe I'm missing something, but) Ace's only use is pretty much being a hothead at dinner at Escorial every once in a while. I don't think we have seen him in any other position since his high school years, have we? I would hate for that to happen to JJ. I think it would be interesting to see how he matures and also learn about his sexual encounters (+ possibly confusion about being gay or straight or bi) after his abuse and how he deals with that. I think it is an interesting topic. As he grows older he will change (I lope at least LOL) and become less bitchy, and that should make more people like him. It would be interesting to see him develop. I hope to see that at least. I can see JJ ending up like Marcel or Ace or the like, but frankly I think he has more potential and I hope Mark will go for it. My two cents for tonight

LOL I've been reading mostly depressive stories all day and this really cracked me up. It definitely was what you promised, something completely different

It's weird, I don't quite know how to feel after reading this ^^ You have a interesting (positively) way of telling stories. But why does it always need be with at least one dead person?

That was so sad again (Stop cutting onions already, Mark! ) I'm kind of glad the really sad parts are over. Not that I didn't like them, and I hope we will have more of these intense emotions in the future of CAP (although I don't hope for anyone to die or the like). But it's been a long journey to this point and I kind of feel exhausted by all the sadness. And reprinting the last call was a good idea. It was pretty powerful, emotionally. While I agree with most other things you wrote, and yes, JJ is a snotty bitch and snob, I don't think it was about him being a snob when he complained about it being in the mission. Actually I think he would have complained about any place, and it might as well have been someone else, just like Will and many others had other various outbreaks of emotions since 9/11, or what the teacher at Will's school did. So what I'm trying to say, while I usually find JJ to be annoying, I think in this case I can totally understand him... And while his brothers were better in keeping their emotions under control we can't forget that JJ is basically a 12 y/o who has barely entered puberty. He's still a kid, in some ways.

This was a very beautiful read On the one hand I always have problems with stories that leave so much open (Charles' story from when he was with Joe to the present, why does he have children? Did he find love again? Charlie's future? Possibly even the future of Jon and Joe). I never feel quite satisfied with a story if it is as open as this. xD On the other hand, this story can pretty much remain where it is, everything else would kind of be a new topic, hence a new story. So I'm not saying there should be more, I'm just saying it leaves me with a feel of dissatisfaction. But maybe that's even good, every once in a while. It does get me thinking and if I don't have that too often, it's a nice thing. Anyway, it was a really nice read, I like your writing style. Hoping to read more some time.

This is something where it is much more likely than with most things. But that doesn't keep us from speculating now, does it? ;P

Kody had some interesting thoughts in his latest review and I hope it's okay to start on that one in here: "KodeOwl Yesterday, 11:58 PM (Chapter 49 Review) Mary Ellen Secret: This puzzled me (mainly that Wade did not ask her who told her). I took sometime reviewing who knew Wade’s secret. There was the inner family (Elizabeth and Beau); that brother of Jason Haupt (I do not remember his name); adopted family (who would not have told). I am going to guess Elizabeth told her. If she is offering a truce to stay out of her mother’s schemes I am guessing Elizabeth has some use of the secret. However, I doubt she would want it publicly known (since this puts her as negligent). [side note] Does this means it had to be Elizabeth who told that brother about Wade’s secret since Matt only said he told him Wades father was abusive (but not sexually)." --------------- It's an interesting question where Mary Ellen got this from. I wonder though, why Elizabeth would tell Mary Ellen about this. I mean, we all know that nobody can trust Mary Ellen and Elizabeth should not be so stupid to give her an information that could backfire this badly. I can imagine her already scheming how to use this one against Wade, but from telling Marry Ellen would come no good for her, I believe. Jason Haupt did not know about what kind of abuse it was, but how many things can this mean? If it would be physical or emotional, Marry Ellen would have known that by herself, I guess, she's part of the family and close to them at least. So she might just have guessed right that it was sexual because everything else wouldn't make sense. Then there is also the tape. Do we know what happened to Beau's tape? Did it just remain in his room? It's hard to imagine he did that, I mean it's like a ticking bomb, with servants in the house. But then again, I don't remember that anyone besides Matt, Wade and Beau knew that Beau actually got a copy. (didn't he?) She might have just found that one. And also, Beau appears to be pretty clueless about the dynamics of his family. He might have just accidentally mentioned it in Marry Ellen's presence. Any ideas? :3

*sobs* It was a beautiful read. I really like your writing and hope to read more. I got really drawn into this story and it's incredible how you conveyed the love between them and also the horror of the abuse in such a short story. I don't usually read mystery stuff, but I can't wait to find out how you will close the circle here. From what you said in reply to my other review I assume there will be some sort of happy ending, only now it looks like we need to get the storylines of Joe, Jon, Charlie and possibly also grandfather Charlie (although to me he seemed happy enough for a happy ending) together and I don't see yet, how there can be a happy ending for all parties in this series. At least not if the last part is as 'short' as the others. When will the 3rd part post?

Why did I even hope for Wade meeting Ethan already in this chapter... x.x I'm glad the whole thing with Tony seems to be resolved now. It was about time something like this happened. Only now it seems besides Ethan we have only Robbie's funeral/will, possibly the issue of Maddy (that one seems to calm down though, or maybe I'm mistaken...) and possibly Wade's mother making problems left... although I can't really see her being a big problem right now... maybe later, but right now she seems pretty beaten... And well everyone getting back on track... but the end of this book seems closer and closer and I worry that we will not learn to know Ethan as well as I hope we do. Maybe it's just because of the insane amount of speculation about him (I did that pretty all the time when I was not sleeping since his name was mentioned) but I feel that he might take a bigger role than the other occasional long-lost relatives do.

I can see that for the beginning, him being hostile or at least apprehensive at first, but I doubt that Wade will give up easily on him and I suppose that Ethan will eventually see that Wade is nothing like their family. As for him being homophobic, I doubt that because Mark said in a review where I suggested the same thing: "I think a big part of who Ethan is will be derived from his mother, whom we haven't met yet. She raised him during those formative years. I'm not seeing him as a homophobe though. I mean, he is living in a boarding school." Anyway, I can't wait for Wade to meet Ethan and baaah whyyy does it have to be after the funeral x.x I have a feeling that it will be weeks before we actually have a chapter where we meet him, I doubt the whole week + the funeral + possibly Robbie's will (which will all happen before Wade meeting Ethan) will fit into one chapter.

This was a really amazing read. The story is very short, shorter than what I usually bother to read, but this really turned out to be very good, what I find is a rarity with stories that ore so short.. I love how well you convey the protagonists feelings, especially in the beginning. Then meeting Joe and learning to know him was pretty capturing. It made me wonder who this guy was and where he came from. I am now a bit confused about him being so cold at the first touch. Because with them holding hands later, and cuddling and all it was (as far as I remember) not mentioned again. That kind of makes the first possible interpretation (of Lisa) with him being a ghost more difficult, because either he warmed up or it would have been mentioned again... or.... well the question is, who or what is Joe Well, either way you leave a lot of questions open, and while I don't usually like that, it's pretty cool here. Even though I was all the time hoping that you were just playing with fate and coincidence and Joe was like alive and really 16ish and his grandpa knew him (I mean, it would be kind of pointless, but there are authors who do these kind of thing) and they would meet again, the ending was really surprising, but still, somehow a happy ending really. I'm babbling, and I shouldn't do that But this story really did get me thinking. I'm thrilled to read that there will be two more parts and I hope we learn more about who or what Joe is and why all of this is. I'm really looking forward to that and hope you post soon. I'm hope its not too sad, or I will be moping around for days stories like these do affect me a lot. Good job!

LOL, I think Marie already had her share of incest for a couple books (if only in name).

Damn, you and your cliffhangers... I really didn't expect something new like this to come up so suddenly... I'm really wondering how Wade will handle all this, what Ethan was told all his life, and what kind of guy he ist... Is he gay (LOL it's CAP, he probably is)... or is he anti-gay maybe? And a whole bunch of possibilities spread from just the mention of one more person. It's funny how others instantly thought of Will... makes me question if living half his year in boarding school made him grow up early, or just left him in some way socially/psychically handicapped? Either way he would fit into the family

Wow Mark, you move fast here. Two chapters to solve pretty much all of the pre 9/11 problems (Will/Marie and Will/Brad). The teacher was really rude and I was strangling him in my imagination, but then again, as others noted, it was probably a good thing to happen to Will. Someone else said that he feels the big surprise will come when Robbie's will is read... I spend a great amount of time thinking about that part... Basically we have two major things Robbie leaves behind: his stock in Anders-Hayes and his money. The most likely to get anything are his sons and Brad, of course. Splitting up the stock to more than two parties (or actually at all) seems unlikely to me. I guess JJ and Darius will get money, them getting the stock seems kind of off. If Brad gets it that would be kind of boring (he already owns 30%). If Will gets it that would automatically get him more involved into the whole empire of his family (and because of his emancipation he actually can do this job) and I guess that would be an interesting thing for the future, Will, the 15(+) y/o involved in the business world of the Schulters? That sounds pretty good to me.. But what about Matt? After all he was Robbie's biological son... And Robbie could even give the stock to Alex (idk the laws but it seems like something that could happen), him being his successor and all... that would really stir shit up... I really can't wait for all these things to come out and the funerals and everything to be over... The fact that Robbie and Brad had these issues makes me feel that there is something interesting to come when the will is read... without their issues it would've been way less intense, I guess... But maybe I'm totally wrong.. either way, next chapter, naaaaooo

This is most surprising, I really would never have expected it, yet now everything does make sense. It seems such an easy solution for all the problems though, but then again, they have enough problems to deal with anyway.

Rereading CAP I couldn't help but get a huge, evil grin when Robbie said this about (the unborn) Will: 'He smiled at me. “Things will be fine. Great. Unless the kid turns out to be a smart-ass just like you.” '