Laura S. Fox

Ah, what an analysis, @Cane23! It really makes me realize new things about my own story. And they're true Alexander is willing to play 'the game' because he believes this is how he gets to the finish line. That doesn't mean he doesn't experience frustration. He has always had great expectations of Lyn, which is why he wants Lyn to see it instead of letting him know what he truly says and means. It is a way of treating Lyn as his intellectual equal, something he has always appreciated about his friend. Lyn dodges the true meanings of Alexander's words because it feels safe. How does that eternal truth go? People change only when change becomes inevitable. In what Alexander says about Brad, he once again proves he knows his friends pretty damn well. He sees Brad's flaws, not to bring him down, but to see him in a realistic light. How much of a prophecy those words will prove to be... that remains to be seen. Lyn, in his efforts to play their usual dynamic, makes faux-pas after faux-pas. He tries to compliment Brad and keeps him on the same pedestal, but at the cost of Alexander becoming upset (And Alexander is right to be upset). Even Lyn can see it, although he tries to rearrange it in his own head the way he usually does. Lyn will have to work a little to get back in the demon's good graces. He really needs to... ahem, realign himself. And finally, yes, he was jealous! He didn't say it, but he was, and that slipped, oh boy... Alexander really needed a bit of satisfaction, after all. Push and pull, back and forth, they are advancing on their way to their destination. I'm so happy to have such invested readers! Thanks again!

YES! He is an asshole lawyer, lol... Alexander might have made his feelings toward Brad known before... who knows?

Oh, yes, it makes perfect sense. I'm basically giving you guys a big puzzle and pieces only one by one

Lawyers - good lawyers - tend to be like that. You need a fighting dog in there when you have to go against someone else, I suppose.

So true!

I'm so glad that there is someone else who's met such people in their life, because I know how difficult and complex Lyn might appear to the readers. Building him slowly, scene by scene, is an arduous process for me - but one I enjoy, of course. And his very focused view on things helps him in his profession, but not in his personal life when he prefers to dodge everything. Hmm, but that line wasn't maybe only for Brad... Alexander does want to use his wit to cut through Lyn's bullshit, after all. You are correct in many ways about Alexander and his choices. He'll talk about his scholarship soon and some things will come to life. But not all, of course Thank you for the in-depth comment!

Alexander is so much about showing, not telling. Lyn prefers not to look. Gosh, I know how he must look to you, but he is how he is. And yes, when he understands it... he's going to be all shades of messed up.

I did leave a clue in the first chapter about Lyn's tunnel vision and dogged determination to defend his point of view. Which does help him in his profession whenever he needs to prove the other party wrong.

Chapter Sixteen – [Memory, Freshman Year, Late May] – Temptation, Take My Hand Where could Brad be? He had been a no-show for their little meeting to celebrate finishing their finals with flying colors. That wasn’t like him, and Lyn couldn’t help thinking that something important must have gotten in the way. He was plainly lying to himself. It had to be her. He hated himself for hating her, because he knew it wasn’t the girl’s fault that Brad liked her. He hated himself for being so we

It happened only partially on page. Wen kept pushing Hearst about doing his own research on Jamie's family, and eventually gave him the family name. Hearst, being good at research - journalistic style - tracked down Jamie's siblings and he used what he learned - that Jamie's brother is a lawyer, to play the winning hand. I didn't make it particularly clear on page, because it would've ruined the surprise - Jamie's surprise at seeing Nolan coming to the rescue, and the readers' surprise, of course.

Nolan and Lucy carved their own way... I didn't want them to come across as heartless, but they did have to struggle on their own. Jamie is the one with the most heart, however. Let's see if rabbit is on Jamie's menu next.

Xpress becomes a legend now that the one writing it is graduating. And there will be a talk about it... in the epilogue.

You're a nice kind person @Joie J. You're right to care about him, since he still has a chance to become someone better as he is young and lacks proper focus.

Hearst has a healthy moral compass, and Wen was terribly in the wrong...

It will be... between Hearst and Jamie

Actually, I'm a certified paranoid person when it comes to such things and I checked. Unless it's a big trademark - like Harry Potter or A Song of Ice and Fire, titles aren't copyrighted. Especially when it comes down to common words, like the ones I used, it would be too far of a stretch to slap a copyright mark on them, because we would all run the risk of not having words in the dictionary to use after a while!

Hearst would definitely love to attend any performance that includes Jamie. And Jamie is more than willing now to perform for his rabbit... just saying

The settlement will mainly be a footnote, since I have bigger fish to fry... I mean bunny to toast... I mean a rabbit to make... ah, I'm out of ideas! Read the new chapter

Wen didn't see it... When he does realize, it will be late. Very late. Hearst played a risky game and won, and that despite knowing that it would hurt his brother. I know that you guys would love to read about Jamie punching Arthur, but let's keep our boy out of jail, lol! Hearst needs him at home, after all...

Thank you for all your comments! Jamie did a good share of growing, I agree. And Hearst needed to navigate shady waters, because it's never that easy to get what you want. I like to think that Wen and Hearst do care about each other to a degree. Hearst doesn't think that this sort of soul-selling job is a good option for Wen, and Wen often thinks that he must protect his younger brother. They disagree, however, on important aspects, hence their distancing.

Chapter Fifty-Three – Not Great at Winning Wen had been right about one thing: Jamie was a leaver. Upon his return to Sunny Hill, without seeking him out directly, Hearst had heard through the grapevine that Jamie had terminated the lease on his rental and left for who knew where. At any point, he could start an investigation of his own, following the trail until it ran cold, but he didn’t want to do that. If Jamie had thought he had one reason, no matter how tiny, to stay, he would’ve done

Yes, that was it And you're right, he-he-he... Glad you can still read online, and I hope with how fast the technology moves, we might be able to listen to any text we want soon. As someone who reads around 5-6 books a month, not being able to read... would make me so sad.

Yep, it's all in the details! You noticed! I don't know the book you're mentioning, but Danny has his role cut out for him.

Ah... the snogfest... we will have that, but first Danny needs to sort out a few more things. Seeing how he's very important now... very skilled... such a great fit for Ryder and his pack... You're so true about Ryder's dad. There will be stuff about and with him, too! Thank you for the inspirational music, as well!

He-he, someone has his reservations... who knows, he might be right...