Israfil

I'm just surprised Billy didn't tell Brett about how Joey assaulted him at church. Sure Brett's still technically friends with him but it doesn't seem like they're so ridiculously close he would think Billy was lying. I get that it's not something you talk about but at least so he doesn't have to deal with his boyfriend hanging with that asshat.

So Don's one of those people - who equate being gay with some sort of vice. He's acting like he just found out Robbie's on heroin ("any other place you use?") in boiling it down to just the act. We already know that his reputation in the community is super important to him so he's probably freaked about when more people find out. Factor in the surprise and knowledge it was hidden for a while - if he's anything like Nicola he likes to know things and be in control - and you have a recipe for a bad reaction. I admit I didn't quite expect that level of outrage - more the passive aggressive kind that's no less damaging.

Going by your previous work, I think I know what's going on and my heart aches for Dustin. It sucks for Billy too - he thinks he can't do anything since as a kid you have that ingrained sense of powerlessness. It makes you overlook the steps you can take.

So you know I love the story and characters right? Which is why I'm going to be honest.... I feel compelled to point out that the whole first half with Robbie in bed dragged on a bit... I have the same issue where I get carried away with dialogue so I get it but it really could have been cut down. I found myself waiting for the story to pick up again with their back and forth. After the last chapter, we knew that Daniel was going to find out and it was hard not to get impatient. While cliffhangers are fine and there's something to be said for build-up, it kind of felt like a let down after nothing happening for half the chapter, especially when you know stuff is about to go down. Imagine - you wait for an update and are stoked to see the notification. You read it and then notice the little scroll bar. It's kind of disappointing to see it's half way through and all that's happened is Robbie trying to get a handjob. On a story note, love that they're out and feeling free but now they have the same issue as straight couples - enjoying the honey moon phase without annoying everyone around them (too much) with PDA lol. My best friend got together with my roommate and I was ready to throw them over the balcony at one point they were so mushy. Again, I love the story and I'm always excited for an update - which is why I'm pointing out what I did in this review.

Sure, things can exacerbate it or it can be a result of trauma but nothing has to actually cause depression in the medical sense. It's a mental illness that runs in families like any other. You can't trace it back to a specific reason. That's tantamount to saying "oh, cheer up" or some such.

What's Quinten's power I wonder?

So I think we can all guess who that song is for A thought occurs. We know Teddy is growing on Ryder but what if it's not romantic? Not saying there would be no chance but maybe these signals we're picking up is Ryder finally sort of letting someone in - platonically? After all, Teddy has done something no one else really has in standing up for him so publically. Maybe the warning from Teddy's uncle will come true but not in the way he thinks.... Yes, I'm horrible for suggesting it, I know haha

Cute story . Love the dynamic - but one question.... Is the narrator named Roger or Andy? There seems to be some conflict there haha.

Though it wouldn't have made much difference since Sue already knew about them, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the doughnut thing. Like come on, they were ridiculously obvious. Speaking as a guy who's good at hiding.

I have a feeling there will be a couple more issues before it truly ends. We may not have seen the last of Ro, for instance. Remember, this is the Underground - I doubt Ace will let us have such a fairy tale ending haha.

Least of his worries but I'm thinking that if he gets back, Walter might actually send him off to military school. Then he won't see Carter T_T

If it's Carter, well, he wouldn't want Riley to do anything but of course that won't be he case and I can't blame him. If it's Owen, I hope he leaves it be but we all know that won't happen. He feels responsible, justified or not, for all the horrible things the Saints do. Not to mention, that Owen's idiocy and hatred for him may make Riley feel a degree of responsibility for him too. Most likely the former though - Riley won't be able to stand by and let the Saints ruin any more lives. He's still a teenager - with all the bloated self importance that comes with it - as we saw when he spoke to his grandfather, he thinks he's the only one who can slay the beast, so to speak. He bought in to what everyone told him about how he propped up the Saints, not realizing those people just wanted a scapegoat. Maybe he'll just go to the police with info he has - which would be a big deal for him to "snitch." Unfortunately, the police hate him just as much as the Saints since they see him as having evaded justice so they may try to get him to plead guilty to something as a deal, who knows.

Well if the other stories are anything to go by - there will be plenty of pain for both body and soul before the end. The worrying thing about Owen is that he's an angry teenager with something to prove, potentially making him very dangerous. That's not even factoring in the pain from what Aaron said - he's likely blaming Cy for taking away his friends. A plan may half-assed but it could still do a great deal of damage. Granted in his current state he might not do his best planning but...we know he's intelligent even if his EQ/social skills leave a lot to be desired. However, what's possibly worse than what Owen would do, is Cy's response. Owen already said he'll do "what it takes" - so he may be gunning for a reaction that will turn the community against Cy. It wouldn't be too hard considering it's already halfway there. Owen's plan may involve gaining the school's sympathy instead of its ridicule - choosing between one of them and an "outsider" like Cy, people back up their own instinctively. TL;DR - Owen could take it even further than he realizes. I'm worried for Cy.

Well, he won't be free until his father is gone - the mans idea of fighting seems to come from goddamn comics and cartoons. "Don't get hit" really? Everyone gets hit in martial arts - it's a fact.

So are we ever going to find out exactly why Aiden's dad is stark raving mad? Actually, poor choice of words since by definition there doesn't have to be a reason for that but I think you know what I mean. That he considers Aiden an "investment" doesn't quite explain it.

I dislike everyone's view of Eli. "Gunned down his dad"? Well to be fair, his father did kill his boyfriend and might have killed him too. So he went from happy go lucky to angry - so what? When people undergo a change like that, everyone acts like they failed somehow. It's actually this thing called grieving.

Okay I find what the coach tried to pull to be a little inappropriate. Or rather, how dare he? If a kids trying to make a rational desicion, even if it's one you don't like, don't try and use their crush to manipulate them so they make it for irrational reasons - and that is very much what a crush is.

He's not wrong though. There's a reason for the saying "never meet your idols."

So maybe they could have fought Natasha's biased report after all. Especially since we know what it said - once Walter fought someone to look at it seriously they could tell she was writing as if he were a comic book villain. Though it did turn out pretty well - in the "no news is good news" sense. A bland report is to be expected when people are so overbooked, unless everyone was looking forward to the report of the infamous Cy Walker. Avery's response was about what I expected, honestly. While Owen deserved everything, hearing your friends hang with you out of pity and obligation probably feels worse than that punch in the face. On some level he probably knew it though - which is why he picked on Cy so much, trying to solidify his place in the group and cover his own insecurities through victimizing someone else. Which, in a nutshell, is the reason most bullies act the way they do. I suspect Owen may not be leaving the group - though he will be gone for a bit, I imagine. Chances are there will be some sort of reconciliation, at least from Carter and Noah, of like "you're a dick but kind of our friend" cause they're used to him now if nothing else. Those two seem the type to not want to leave someone out to dry since he literally has no other friends. As someone who was a little bit of a dick in high school and sometimes still can be, I sort of hope he changes. Still glad Aaron told him what's what though - his words hit harder than Cy's fist by a long way. Cy's thought process makes me smile. He really did think it through - even if he was going by the gang mentality of using a show of force. I do worry for him though - his belief that he doesn't need to be liked or popular since he has all he needs (friends, family, the team) isn't completely wrong but...niave. I used to think the same way but learned that while you might have the support of those who matter most, you still can't be hated by everyone else.

It was pretty awesome but I'm worried for him. Like another person said, she could report him. My thought was to tell Walter how biased she was and he could try and get her taken off the case. I'm sure her inability to be objective is a red flag for the agency. Then again, bureaucracy is ridiculous and the system is slow. Trying to fight this would be an uphill battle. She clearly believes all the stories so maybe that will work to Cy's advantage. But seriously, gangs are horrible and I'm sure Cy was scary but calling a 15 year old the Devil is a touch melodramatic. Get a grip, woman. He may be smart for but he's still a teenager - criminal masterminds they are not. He couldn't prop up the Saints and Natasha just wanted a scapegoat cause vengeance on an individual rather than a group is so much more...satisfying.

Evan weighed his options from his hiding spot behind the kitchen counter. Mithras would see him the instant he stood up and though the small dragon’s back was to him, Evan had no doubt it could be at his throat in an instant. However, he did have the element of surprise and the small distraction that he could create would be enough for Anshar to free himself. But would it also be enough to prevent Evan from being disemboweled? He had recovered somewhat from his fight with the grey drago

Ouch. My heart goes out to John here. Honestly this might be one of my favorite chapters even if it was more an introspective of one rather than action oriented. I like the acknowledgment that you cant just wish away the past and how you feel about it, no matter how much you might want to. At some point you have to face it and what it means for the future.

Sooner than you think!

I was ridiculously excited to see this update.

My feelings are the same regarding his trauma. What good would it do to tell Bobby? And before you say "bring them closer" - there's no guarantee it will. It could just as likely undo the progress they've made, if not more so.