Krista

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

I am still addicted to the Dragon Age series. I play for the story. If the game has a good story with multiple characters available for interactions, I am more willing to become addicted to it and will play them. I'm not much for playing video games, but Dragon Age, now Mass Effect, and games along those lines do grab me for awhile. I want to see how relationships play out in the game differently... and the different endings, or attempting to go through the game in opposite directions of what you typically do.. etc. As long as they come out with games with a lot of story, exploring, side-quests.. and isn't so linear, I'll likely play it.

Thanks for reading! Lol, I don't know if they're ready for fast forward to locker room boinking any time soon. They need to come back down to Earth first. Jackson definitely had a.. "I didn't know that was possible.." until it happened moment. I wonder how he will respond to that..

Thanks! Yep, they finally kissed. I thought they had been building up to the breaking point for awhile now. Either to kiss or to explode on one another.. lol. So I took that road, of course. Who knows though, the explosions may just be beginning.

That Michael Phelps poster though. I'm kidding. We'll see how he reacts in the next chapter, Steven.

Congratulations!

Happy Birthday!

After my talk with Henry, I gave him a short wave and jogged from the sidewalk to my car. As I was about start the car, though, I saw Luke waving his hands for me to stop. Sighing and remembering what I had just told Henry, and with Henry watching on as if waiting to see what I would do. I let the car idle and waited for Luke to come say whatever he wanted to say before I left for practice. I just hoped this didn’t make me late, after my stunt in the hallway, Coach Tate hasn’t been too thrilled

Happy Birthday!

Ooh, nice. I've seen that a lot too, with people their age. Where they hide their true intent with what they're comfortable with, right or wrong or inappropriate. I'm glad you're seeing the good in Jackson with the lacking of evidence. He has his moments of pure goodness and his moments of pure meanness.. lol.

Thanks for reading! Growth isn't easy, it isn't night and day. That is the entire point of this story for sure. For growth to come, for it to be difficult. Change is difficult to accept and hardly ever welcome. Add the fact that Jackson thinks everything in his life has already fallen into place, he's more unwilling for that change and will be stubborn. I just hope y'all stick with him and see the hopeful progression in him. That is my goal, I think, with this story.

By the end of last chapter, I think Jackson thought Luke didn't need him and in this chapter, it was confirmed in his mind. The expectations from Henry surprised him, he hasn't really had a significant reaction to it other than the promise. If that holds out, if he allows Luke to be a friend, he will grow - yes. If he doesn't.. and relapses, I think he'll be in for a rude awakening in college. lol. The question is, if Jackson is fine where he's at.. or if that will change?

Thanks for reading. You do have Jackson pegged. He thinks he has his life planned out for him. A plan to get out of this small town. An achievement that he is one of the most popular people at their high school. It is all in front of him and he just has to wait for it to fall into his lap - he thinks they are guaranteed no matter what. People like that are sometimes difficult to reach, that sort of tunnel vision. I like your description as Luke as well, very in depth for both characters. Henry - I really want people to like him. He's very optimistic. As I flesh him out you'll see more of him and Cindy.

Thanks for reading! I do have a question: Can Jackson prove himself to you, that he deserves faith people have for him.. as well as Luke's friendship? Or has his actions already made that an unwelcome outcome for these characters? Right now, at this point in the story I agree with you completely, but I'm just curious if he's gone too far? I knew Jackson would be difficult, I wrote the story with that intention. lol. So I am glad people are really worried/angry/not in love with Jackson at this point. I just hope readers stick with him to see if he reaches that redemption moment.

Thanks for reading! This story is a character development story that I've been really wanting to write for a bit. Jackson has a ton of growth so the ending is very wide open. That does sound like a realistic ending for him though.

Hi, thanks for reading. Jackson's Mom, Grace works as one of the top people in a factory. These small town factories run 24 hours a day 6 days a week in different shifts. Usually people near the top of the factory are "on call" most of the time and need to come in and fix mix-ups and such. Small town factories are what this one is based on, I've had family members working for them forever and they're extremely busy - too busy.. but they have to keep up demands placed on them by cooperation or they pull the factory out of the region. Jackson's reaction to seeing Luke is interesting. Is there a turning point for them coming up after Jackson realized that Luke could be fine by himself. That maybe his fear of being followed around by a "lost puppy," in Luke is hollow.. or does he want Luke as a friend? The brat is very difficult to read.. lol. I'm glad you didn't hate Jackson this chapter, he was pretty friendly and cooperative this chapter for sure. I knew after last chapter that he needed a reality check and he got one. Will it stick? We'll see.