Krista

Eh, scratch that. I just need to focus on writing...

Thanks for reading! Sadly in some cases the 'mother' of the child gets more attention and less scrutiny in custody hearings over children - there is just this stigma to single fathers.. but I'm seeing that change a lot. I'm glad you liked the first chapter!

A lot happens before this excerpt, but the story really takes off after it as well... I honestly think after the chapter that has this excerpt I figured out what I wanted to do with this story. This story actually started out as a Heterosexual story back in my younger days in high school. It was about a girl that had a father who wanted a son. Instead he of course got the daughter... I may one day write the story - it will be distinctly different than this one.

Hell I need to go back and read the story again... lol. I've forgotten a lot and I read through some of the later chapters and really liked the characters again. Made me miss them anyway.

Happy Birthday!

Lol. Just sic Jenny on him if he starts mouthing off. She has a good right hook on her if I remember correctly. It isn't a bad idea - there are some things I left on the table not sorted out for sure. That's okay! These features are for that purpose too! To bring light to stories that may have fallen under the radar now that they are completed and years old. If you do check it out, I hope you enjoy the story.

Maybe if my mind can come up with something really juicy for them... they ended in such a happy place that I want that to continue for them... lol. Some of my reservations about doing a sequel for these characters, is that TBY "is" going to feature those big moments heading into the Senior year that you don't get to see with SiS. Even if those characters are distinctly different, I would mostly get bogged down in those scenes if I revisited those milestones so frequently. Although, I do have small snippet stories planned for TBY after it is completed already... you can likely guess what those would be if I ever get the next chapter for that story posted.. lol. (if you're reading that story, that is). But I have been known to change my mind like the wind changes directions...

Thanks for commenting. Part of the reason I chose this story for the feature as well, is that I feel from beginning to end - it showed how I grew up a bit as a writer. I remember reading the first 10 - 12 chapters and thinking that the story was a bit rough around the edges. Then as that progressed it really got a lot better... It also had my favorite cast of side-characters. I like your review, I should really put that as a story description - it is better than mine. (I notoriously suck at those as it is) Thanks for the kind words! I hope you do and enjoy the story. You have the luxury of getting to read it as completed... the poor readers that were around when I posted it had to endure 3ish years of posting before they got the complete story... poor dears. Corey's Dad is one of my favorite characters. I 'liked' writing him. I liked the contrast and interactions that Corey's Dad and Corey had throughout the story.. especially towards the end. At least I am being somewhat quicker with TBY, yes? Maybe? lol Thanks for reading the story Graeme! I may have thought about having The Best Year being a somewhat sequel-spin off from Standing in Shadows (having all the characters being from the same school)... that would have been way too much work though... A sequel right now is so far off the table right now. I wouldn't know how I would want to approach it. I once attempted a Sequel to AYC and found it to be too dark and nearly vilifying the love interest... These characters are my favorite though, Corey's gang of friends and his parents would make it fun to revisit. I just need to think of a good reason why I would want to put all of them through more trouble, angst, and laughs. I hope you enjoy the story! You do need to catch up lady... I kid, time is so precious these days. On that note I need to get the next chapter of TBY out too... haha. I like writing "boy next door" romances. I live in a rural place now and I love where I live... and I want to think that romances can be so innocent and tender like what Standing In Shadows is about. These are the stories I continue to gravitate towards, I like the realism. I like that such common people can have stories worth writing and reading about.

Happy Birthday!

Hi! Thanks for reading. I'm so glad you enjoyed this story. It was a project that took me a long time to write, so you definitely caught it when it was complete. (I feel sorry for those that had to endure 4 years of my delays to read the entire piece). This story is about friendship.. those side characters, I think are the reason I enjoyed the story as the author of it. Andy, Keith, Jenny.. we would all do well with friends like those. Cory is also a sweetheart, his characters was a nice study. I'm sorry I just now noticed the reviews! I'm sorry about the ticks in chapter 5.. lol. A lot of people felt itchy as they read that scene. The father 'is' a favorite character of mine. I like that he was so negative, pushy, borderline abusive. It made the story and Cory's growth all the more fulfilling. Or at least I hoped so. Thanks for taking the time to read the story. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks for reading! Yes, I can feel that the last two chapters have been the tipping point in the story. There are things Jackson will have to face head on in the coming chapters.. otherwise, he'll go crazy inside his own head. lol. There was a lot of inner-dialog in this chapter, I'm glad you liked his inner complexities.

Thanks for reading! Growing up in the south there's a saying that I think all Mothers have used in dealing with their children. It goes like this: "I'm at my Wits end with you!" Usually that is followed with a new parenting strategy that may or may not be well thought out. It definitely seems like this was a moment for Grace. I'm not sure you're being sarcastic or not, but if you aren't, I like that you liked her attempt at parenting this time. If you are, you definitely made me laugh as I read it thinking of it being sarcasm.

Thanks for reading! Now that you mention it, the forced apology was pretty small. He didn't lose his phone (for an extended period of time), he wasn't grounded on top of being grounded, and his car is still his to drive. Maybe Grace/his mother thought that knocking that ego/nothing can get in the way of my life mindset would bring him back down to Earth a little. But yes, as far as lingering punishments go, if he can get over the embarrassment he got off easy. People like to think that people are brave. If something similar happened to me, though. I would be floating down a river too, if my friends offered that to me. This is completely new to him, the thoughts in his head aren't thoughts he entertained before. He definitely hasn't forgotten about that kiss. Luke hasn't either.

Thanks for reading! Maybe Luke sees someone that is living for themselves. He may not see Jackson as someone that is selfish... or maybe Luke is prepared for that. He seems very self assured and comfortable with himself. It would take someone like Luke to put up with Jackson, for sure. Most people wouldn't... maybe Jackson will see that one of these days and calm his butt down. Maybe?

Thanks for reading! He did seem to be going along with the breeze. Only participating when he thought he needed to. I mean, he did have fun with them. They did take his mind off of Luke - at least partially. They are definitely people he trusts and feels comfortable with. Maybe a little shaky with Ally, but that was because he kissed someone that wasn't her... and I guess, even though Jackson is a bit of a brat, he seems to be a loyal one. I think if I were in his shoes, I'd be scared of what Ally would think if she found out about outside of relationship kissing.. So poor dear has that to worry about in his future, I think. After the kiss, the hand holding came. It seemed to settle them both down and allow them to escape a bit.. I mean there is affection in hand holding.. you can't hold someone's hand and feel nothing.. So I do think that 'has' to be encouraging for both of them. And Cindy is hawk eyed, yes. She is very protective, but she is also very biased, biases can skew perception. She may not like Jackson, but it may not be for 'that' reason and for what she sees in her own son... or of course maybe she does. I'm definitely not going to spill the beans on her yet. Writers have to be cruel sometimes.

Thanks for reading! The friends did help in their own way, yes. He would have went into work at the park w/out their intrusion... we'll never know if that would have been a good idea or not... It got him into massive trouble.. lol.. damned if you do, damned if you don't sort of day for him. I think a lot of people going through what he is, would jump at a chance of an escape from that for awhile. So his decision to go made sense.

Thanks for reading! I think if Toby and Derek didn't bust out on him from the closet. I would like to think he would have went in to work and - I agree - maybe that wouldn't have been the best option in the state of mind he was in. He definitely had a bit of a shock to sort through. Luke too, I imagine. He definitely doesn't mind Luke's company anymore. So he's going to have to work out a way to balance everything out or I see him toppling over and falling on his face... or maybe some things can work themselves out without him having a hand in it - if only RL was that simple most of the time.

Thanks for reading! Lol. Grace and Cindy. Hmm. I don't know what to think about the discussion on them two yet. Some of you feel that Grace at least, is trying to do her best... it is just too little too late. I can't discount her for trying now that she's about to lose her child to college in a year. Cindy is a mostly unknown character. We see her has overbearing and definitely over protective... For better or worse though, these are the mothers this story has to offer... very different from the mothers of my earlier stories for sure. I like the love Henry has received so far though.

Thanks for reading! The scholarship is the really the first thing that Jackson earned on his own, but his parents have proved in the past that they will let him do/get away with just about anything. They are probably thinking if he loses his scholarship, since Dad is a doctor and Mom is practically keeping a factory organized and optimal, they can just pay his tuition. He is the way that he is.. partly because he has a lot of options to the same path. Through swimming, through is good enough grades, and then his parents are willing to pick him up as well.. or they seem to be. Usually when people have so many options they 'do' take things for granted. But that can change.

Thanks for reading! The way I see Jackson's character right now: He takes two steps forward.. and one step back. There is still growth in his character, but it isn't a straight and easy growth. He hasn't had that.. "Oh" moment where everything hits the fan and the only way for him to move forward is with growth. Is that in his future? I'm not certain it is... I like the character, so his growth will be determined by readers perception. Right now I am in agreement with everyone that says he hasn't grown too much. He is a character study for me, I've never written a character that toes the line between likable and so bratty that you want to strangle him lifeless. What I'm hoping is: That the story is good enough, the characters good enough, that you overlook Jackson's lack of growth and enjoy the story. As long as there is more chapters coming, Jackson can still grow up. So keep that in mind.

Thanks for reading! Yes, she laid down the law quite big in this chapter. I think she's run out of things to try.. so there you have her latest attempt at reining Jackson in a bit. The elbow holding was unintentional at first, then I went back and read it.. and thought.. damn clever me. Happy accidents.

Thanks for reading! Hard to turn down your best friends... yes? Especially when you're grasping at any distraction you can get.. lol.

Hey, thanks for reading! This story isn't as straight forward as my other romances. That is the intention, I want people to be surely tested by Jackson's character. I think in the next coming chapters, you'll find it a lot more revealing.. I at least hint to where I'm going, I think!

Thanks for reading! Their story is complete - I know I focused more on them figuring one another out than them being together.. But it was fun writing these characters is a very dramatic/near soap-opera fashion. If I were to revisit them, it would be a lot more toned down.. definitely.

Aww! I'm glad you're happy. lol. I definitely wanted to move the story on a bit. So I'm glad you liked the outcome. We'll have to see how the guys respond to that kiss though.