Laura S. Fox

It's not over till... it's over Only a handful of chapters left! I like to believe that this story will end on an emotional high...

Chapter Fifty-Six – [Memory, Senior Year, May] – Terrible Mistakes Ah, the smell of freedom. Since that morning, Lyn felt like he was walking on cloud nine. They had done it; they had crossed the finish line, and while many more challenges waited for them ahead, they could now say that they were free. He walked through the quad, enjoying everything from the warm, late evening air on his face to the way his body, young and limber, moved. Tonight, he’d prove to himself that he had

Yep As others also mentioned earlier, it is all from Lyn's POV, which makes it confusing. So of course, he doesn't understand why Brad and Alexander are fighting... And oh yes, Brad's anger is not only because of how Alexander kept him from being with Lyn... but also because Alexander didn't act like how Brad expected him to! I said it earlier, but I'll repeat it here, to have a proper conversation: Lyn is not the only one with clear opinions and 'images' of people. Others do, too. Brad really thought Alexander would encourage him to confess! Because Alexander doesn't lie, because Alexander is a friend, you name it. Oh, the betrayal. Right? Alexander slaps him with the truth, of course: if you wanted it that badly, you didn't have to listen to me. And Brad doesn't like that truth... especially since he knows something about himself that others don't... that's his perspective and can't/won't talk about it. Lyn's reactions are exactly him. He wants them to make up - like kids, he tries to downplay everything because he fears he won't know what to do if it's serious... Brad's moral absolutism - lol, I gave you guys another thing to dissect. He struggles with own feelings of inadequacy. So he tries to confront Alexander on intellectual concepts. Come on, we know it's not a fair fight...

They all have reasons to lie and hide - that's the tragedy of it all. Of course, it's Lyn's hamartia that's at the center of it all - he must be perfect at all costs. Brad and Alexander both have their reasons. Until the end of the story, you'll hear them from them.

Lyn suffers from a certain stubbornness when it comes to solving problems. He got it into his head that only by becoming independent he could be of any help to his friends, and that's what he does. Fun fact, I did ask my Plot Whisperers about the zodiac signs they believed to fit the main characters best. And the ones who guessed Virgo for Lyn were right And Lyn wasn't the only one who put people into little boxes... Brad's fury is related to how he sees Alexander, too. He thought Alexander would encourage him to confess his feelings to Lyn. When that doesn't happen, he's angry and also understands why Alexander does him dirty like that. Yes, so well said. Alexander did trade his future so Lyn could have his. And he would never let Brad have Lyn, not because of his sacrifice, but because he knows what that would mean... you'll read it from him directly in the chapter I just posted.

It was a conversation that happened after that moment, but related. Ever since Alexander didn't act as Brad expected - encouraging him, etc. - the chasm starts. Lyn would've noticed the tension between his friends anyway because it was growing at the time.

Yes, it is a reflection... memory chapters usually are set up this way. Brad knew Lyn was crushing on him but he had his reasons not to take steps to 'verify' it. So he wasn't 100% sure. He needed Alexander to encourage him, and his outrage is related to not getting what he wanted... He, too, has a certain image of Alexander. Which goes to show that we all label others and consider them a certain way.

Brad remains the most confusing part of Lyn's life, until he choses to speak up

Yes, that is correct. This conversation takes place after the one mentioned in the present chapter - you said it better than me. Also, Brad was himself, rubbing Lyn's crush in Alexander's face indeed... Brad has his reasons to not want to study, beyond his obvious restlessness, which, now through readers' eyes, I can see why it could be interpreted as ADHD. Since I grew up in a time where such kids weren't diagnosed, I can describe them, but I can't diagnose them, so to speak. Ha-ha, slippery morals... well, he's basically trying to fight Alexander intellectually... because he senses his inferiority in that respect... remember the 'infuriating complex'? He tries to be just as smart by claiming to understand complex notions. The short version: Brad read it somewhere.

It's all in the details, I think... They fight in front of Lyn but only say fragments. Alexander chose to say that bit to Brad, but it was Brad's choice to believe it or not. We know Alexander would fight with all he got, even saying lies. Alexander never actually told Brad about his feelings. In the previous chapter, Brad showed everyone that he actually noticed a lot (something that will become even more apparent later).

Now I'll be blamed for alcohol consumption, too... On the other hand, Brad might've enjoyed a lil' seeing Alexander shut down by Lyn... Alexander is no fool.

Glad you thought so

Oh, yes, that was it. I replied to @weinerdog above before reading your comment, but you captured the essence of it perfectly.

Since we remain in Lyn's POV all the time, the readers are limited by what he sees (and chooses to see - and hear).

You haven't seen anything yet...

Chapter Fifty-Five – I Needed to See How It Would End “Why the hell did you do that?” Brad had managed to shake Alexander off and was now determined to give Luke a piece of his mind, too. Lyn took another step back, and then another. His place wasn’t here, his role wasn’t that of a witness to an unfolding drama, drama he didn’t need in his life. He wanted to grab his head and yell, as loudly as he could, until the thoughts whirling there were shocked into silence. Alexander.

Chapter Seventeen – The Morning After The first thing Theodore noticed when he woke up at the crack of dawn was the lack of any tension whatsoever in his body. The sensation, so unfamiliar to him, triggered a bout of self-examination. It took him a moment to remember what had happened. The events of the night before came rushing back as he pulled himself to a sitting position, his elbows resting on his knees, his legs bent. With one hand, he chased the recent memories away, wiping his face

Oh, you guys, you flatter me so much And this isn't even everything that the story must say about Brad. While this chapter was pretty much the climax of the story, I do still have a big twist following. And Brad... oh, Brad. I knew he'd have people up in arms. I like to believe that your opinion of him in the end will be complex.

Just his one time, Maestro, allow me not to comment much on your analysis... A lot of true things in here, especially about the avoidance of using the word love by Brad. I wonder how you will look at this commentary you made here once you know the whole truth about Brad. Childish? Yes. But me thinks there is a little more.

Yes, I am drama... and you guys must love drama since you're here, reading my stories... And yeah, Alexander is pretty intense...

Thank you!

Yeah, Alexander was quite manipulative here... in the past, I mean. I know people read him as perfect, and I knew he wasn't, so I can't say that I didn't worry a little about how his actions from the past will reflect on people's opinion of him. However, my hope is that it made him human, and actually in line with his personality to a degree. Lyn did a lot of ignoring, yes. There is still a bit until it all comes back the him, the right angle for seeing things right. I like to believe that it will be emotional - I sniffled when I wrote those chapters, to be honest. Luke won't be explained because we'll remain in Lyn's POV until the end. But his regrets, hopefully, could be read on his face.

I knew a confirmation of Alexander's feelings was in the cards... Lyn will be Lyn, and then we'll have more drama. Also, not all questions related to side characters will have complete answers. The whole story is and will remain Lyn's POV.

Indeed! Couldn't have left a drop... Yet I still have more drama...

Oh, I love this so much. Thank you.