Krista

The thing with past exes, you know them. Obviously you have a connection to them whether you want to admit to that or not. There is hardly ever a clean break where one or both partners are completely over the relationship, sex, what ever. So, for me - if my husband was to cheat, I'd almost rather it be with someone he doesn't have a past connection or past relationship with. I'm very, not sure how to word this, classic? In my dating, relationships, marriage... I want there to be definitive lines, but I want those lines to fall naturally and not be set by me and interpreted just by me, and adhered to just because I made them. I want the guy to be on the same natural page that I am on. Some people say, it isn't cheating until you're at the, "I love you," declaration. If you're sure enough in your own mind to say, "I love you," only then it is time to stop any side relationships and focus just on the one person. I disagree. I feel that once you establish that a relationship is there then ex-lovers, wandering eyes, dating apps, etc, have to stop. They have to stop and stay stopped. I made the mistake once of trying to hold on to two people at the same time and I broke someone's heart and I'm glad they found someone else. I just know to stay well away from him for the sake of my sanity and my relationship with my husband. Also, communication is key. If there are blurred lines between you, they need to become clear. They don't need to become clear by you getting.. "back at him" for being with an ex-lover... to get rid of the jealousy either. I do know that isn't a steady and easy bit of ground to walk on.

We do fake trees. Although the pine smell is nice, around here we just cannot buy a nice large and full Christmas tree... so to get a nice shaped one we went fake. Fake ones are also more durable around kids and animals... little grabby hands would probably shake a real tree down to bare branches before Christmas day. We do have two trees though.. since we have room in the the master bedroom for one and our master bedroom has large windows, we display one up there as well. I've not put either of them up yet though. Shameful, I know.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Hey, thanks for reading! Yeah, Jackson was a bit unruly at the beginning of the story.. and it got him in a world of trouble.. lol. I really like Henry as well, he's shown insight before with talks with Jackson and such. I'm glad you're liking the story.

Thanks for Reading! If my mother showed up like that.. I would have had more of a response akin to Olivia.. lol. It would have been so embarrassing for sure. Cindy isn't done either, we'll see more of what she has to offer in later parts. Jackson's parents have decided to grow with Jackson instead of trying to turn him around at every twist and turn of his senior year... and he has shown that he can take responsibility. As long as that lasts and he doesn't do something too stupid, they may keep it that way. I think Grace likes the newer and more open relationship she is having with her son right now. Definitely something that Cindy and Luke aren't having..

Thanks for reading! I love that you used Luke's nickname. lol. For the most part they do accept him as a friend. It could have definitely went the other way - maybe if Jackson changed a whole lot more than he has... I think he's found a perfect middle ground between.. fun-loving and responsibility.. if it lasts he'll be fine.

Thanks for reading! Yeah, me too. Senior year is bitter sweet by far one of the most bitter sweet things I've went through. Very nice to finally be an "adult" on a "more grown up path.." but the friends that leave and the memories that fade.. and the childhood that is replaced does make it a bit bitter.

Thanks for reading! I think small town friendships like this is something I've always loved writing about. They do endure a lot... possibly not the "gay thing.." all the time like I have depicted through a couple of stories that I've written. The friends were always supposed to be liked.. not just tied to Jackson's asshole-ish behavior.. lol. Cindy was always supposed to be a control freak though. So we got a good dosage of that this chapter. lol

Thanks for reading! I hope with binge reading the story flowed and the characters developed nicely. Sometimes I can lose a little of both writing chapter by chapter... but I'm glad you're enjoying the story and the characters! They have a whole year left for me to cover, I just have to get with it.. lol.

Thanks for reading! Yeah, the "kids" are showing maturity and understanding with certain things a lot better than the adults in this story. I hope Henry gave her what's for too.. she deserves to have a talking to for sure. lol. You will see more about Ally and Cindy in this story for sure.

Thanks for reading! I'm not sure how I will go with Cindy. My plans for Cindy to be the way she is stems on her control issues so far. There will be underlying reasons and her past coming into play. It is only fair since she pulled out the past on Jackson's Mom.. even if it was relatively insignificant. We'll wait and see where I go with her, because like you I'm still wondering how far and where she'll take things. Thanks for liking the story!

Thanks for reading! Cindy definitely did burn bridges. Was it because she felt out of control with Luke and had to do something? Or was it something else entirely? Jackson's parents have stopped trying the "Cindy" method on their son for now.. and I think Mom is seeing the benefits of that sort of new relationship with Jackson. They're talking... not bickering over friends and rules.. that he wasn't going to listen to her on anyway.. lol. I guess it isn't perfect, but so far Jackson hasn't toed the new line his parents set with him.

Hey thanks for reading! Cindy going off is.. for now.. I think what you said in your review. She is 'finally' losing Luke to adulthood and his own decisions. She was able to do that when she had more control over his friends and his entire day, being in the same school that he was. Now that she isn't a teacher at his new school and he has new friends.. I think she feels put on the back burner. Toby and Derek were never meant to be bad guys. They started out a bit snobby and rough, but so did Jackson. lol.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mikie!

So sad.. I didn't know of his medical condition either. He was always so nice.

Oh yes, yes I am. I promise, promise, promise!

Thanks for reading! I don't know if you intended the review to feel a bit, poetic? Maybe not the right word, but I really enjoyed the style of your review! (Sorry for reviewing your review, lol) Thank you for liking the story, I like that you see the dance between Luke and Jackson still ongoing.

The next morning when I opened my eyes, I felt a weight on my side. Sometime during the night I had turned my back on Luke and in the coolness of the night, we had drifted together. That wasn’t what woke me up though, it was someone attempting to unzip my tent, the bright morning sun already shining through the thin material. “Dude, get up, get your clothes on,” Toby hissed still fumbling with the zipper. “She’s here!” “I have my clothes on,” I groaned looking down at my morning wood r

Aww. I like to have accepting friends in my stories. They make the story better and more fun for me to write. It definitely is easier to deal with than the alternative and I may do stories like that in the future, but not this one. Being unaccepted is a very real thing though and maybe Jackson will see that in this story to some extent.. but maybe for not being gay. I'm glad you like the scene with the friends and the end with a hopeful Luke! Thanks for reading!