Krista

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.

The ride home from practice was completely quiet. The only sound inside of the car was of our breathing. I was so conscious of him sitting a few inches away from me in the passenger seat. As the silence got the better of me, I stretched my hand across the hand rest that divided us, I looked straight ahead, holding my breath. When I felt his hand tentatively slide over mine, I relaxed and fought the urge to jerk my hand away. It had been like that since we kissed. Part of me wanted to run and

I literally get 26 every time...

Thanks for reading! Aww, I have to be cruel sometimes... adds suspense! lol. I'm glad you like their banter/dialog as well. I won't tell anyone you're reading when you're not supposed to.

Thanks for reading! What happens next is right, yes? lol. I wish I knew. Well I do, haha I just need to put it to paper. Which Mom? Cindy or Jack's Mom? There definitely seems to be a difference between them right now.. where as earlier people thought they were definitely similar people, being best friends and all. I don't know, I doubt either of them would push their sons together if they thought 'that' could happen. Maybe one or both will surprise us! And, yeah.. Teenagers are stuck a bit.. like in stone.. lol. To ask one to change is like asking one to move a mountain, but maybe he doesn't have to change.. Maybe Jackson was always a good guy.. he just needed someone to be a good guy with/for? Or he could be a complete ass, start freaking out, and pretty much be the same Jackson we've seen so far.. Question is... Which would be more fun for me... evil Krista or nice Krista?

Thanks for reading! Yes, I do agree with you. I feel that if the kiss had happened earlier - especially before Luke came to his house and yelled at him about messing up the tour.. Jackson would have a completely different reaction to what happened in the last chapter. He was able to settle down and really start to get to know Luke though... Also, the isolation has set them two up to be outlets for one another... so we'll see what happens now.

Thanks for reading! Jackson hasn't shown much in way of hopeful reactions... but maybe he'll surprise us all, maybe this is something he never thought he wanted until it landed in his lap... Is he coming out of his self-centered shell a little bit? Maybe growing a wee bit? Hopefully, yes? lol.

Thanks for reading! Nooo, I don't write cliffhangers.. Only MIA Goats do that. The story definitely went into hyper drive for a bit towards the end of that chapter. I think the story needed it, we were getting bogged down in the Jackson - head - drama. lol. The guys have been dancing this odd dance all story, so maybe they'll stop now... or keep dancing. Jackson doesn't have the best reactions to things he doesn't already have figured out.. so we'll see.

Thanks for reading! Luke really opened up this chapter. He took chances. Now the ball is definitely in Jackson's court on how to deal with it. Luke decided to push back... and usually when people do that, they do so with a lot of risks attached. Not trying to sound so foreboding, lol.. but Jack doesn't have the best track record with how he reacts to things outside of his complete control and comfort zone. As far as Cindy goes - she becomes very important to the story as she has been in the past. I can't say one way or the other, but it would absolutely make sense with how she has been acting.

Thanks for reading! I think I needed a chapter where Luke showed a lot of ballsy bravery... so what better way to show that off than with a kiss? lol.. and yeah, Jackson so could shove poor Luke in it would be well within his character.

Thanks for reading! Yeah, I bet neither of them expected to be where they are right now. lol