Krista

Colt took the joke easily enough. It probably surprised him that Joel even made it. Then to have it completely overshadowed by Sierra's comment. He had a lot going on, shivering, wet, naked, and being semi-flirted with and fantasized about. Standing on creek rocks are also uncomfortable. The poor guy. Hmm. I think Joel might be done partying with the Fletcher crowd. It's not gone well for him. Unless he can let go of a lot of that anger and reactivity he has. It was peer pressure that landed them all in this mess. Peer pressure is rough, it's not something so easily overcome sometimes.

Whilst you tell Davin to drop the wet-cat self-destructing Joel for Colt. You're difficult to keep up with.

Aww. Those soft brown eyes Roy has.

I feel he's softened a bit. I think he's safely made up his mind about his future. Now he just has to get over the hurdle of telling his parents... he told Joel to tell them. Knowing they'd support him. But he hasn't told them of his plans yet. I've already read him... despite writing him. As overall just independent and a little self-serving, but we're all guilty of being self-serving. A little quiet and brooding at times. But never a full blown jerk/asshole.

Celia told him not to bust his knuckles. He behaved. I think absolute embarrassment, public as it was hurt Jaxton worse than busting his face up for him. Which I think Joel could have easily done. And in that position with Davin, he would be bottoming, wouldn't he? There's a lot of male on male straddling going on with this story... but no sex. I apologize for that. I guess. There's only two gay guys in this story. *whistles* Well four if you count Jeremiah and Lance... but they're just there at Lunch and then are sent back into the void.

I don't know, Joel would likely be too distracted by his anger to notice if something hard came between them or not. but no, Jaxton is securely straight... we don't care about him. lol He can keep his cheerleader girlfriend. A lot of us fall back into self-loathing habits from time to time... at least you picturing a naked Colt, despite your better judgement of his character is a decent spot to exist in, if you are in a self-loathing mindset.

I think they were all a little concerned the football team would retaliate and they just not have the physical man-power between all three of them to stop whatever happened. Not without a lot of physical evidence that Celia would see coming a mile away. But yeah, he was willing to care for Joel and take him to safety. Colt has always shown that sort of responsibility, even when he didn't particularly like Joel.

Never saw a party's "epic" rating dependent on how many BJs were given. We know there was at least one... Davin and Joel walked by at least one tent that had a guy getting a little something that night. Jaxton might have been too drunk to comprehend Joel there. But, maybe he wasn't and he'll realize that Joel done him a favor by not busting up his face for him. He might remember what he said during all that. I wouldn't say they made up though. Joel was being a total alpha asshole to him the whole time. You don't manhandle someone, tell them they're nothing better than anyone else, not throw a punch, and then help them to their feet... That was a series of unfortunate events for Jaxton, I'd imagine. I did not tolerate bullying around me. I always tried to shut it down. I think it is one of the more disgusting traits a person can have. You guys are really making me feel sorry for Davin this chapter. Well I mean, I think that was my intent with the writing, but the comments about Colt and now Joel's relationship with him has cemented that to a whole level more than I expected. The poor thing. The whole reason Colt's butt is even in this chapter is because of you, and you throw it away! How dare you.

There seems to be a growing list of you all that think their secret is the worst kept secret between all of them. But Celia and Trace do not know or suspect, if they did.. their snuggles at night would be stopping immediately. No parents are that cool.

Efficiently, I'd imagine.

"We have to keep this a secret from her, she won't let us do it anymore." Hmm... I don't remember letting them do it at all, but here we are. It would make more sense for Davin to hold on to his feelings as strongly as he has for all these years. To get a hint that maybe Colt would be able to, but then coming to terms with that being something that they just felt differently about entirely. But no. Davin was just in love with him. Admired him physically, but truly loved Colt for who he was... very romantic of him.

It got there towards the end.. lol. The rest was pure chaos.

Caught would be bad for them. For a lot of different reasons, mostly their loss of freedom to be around one another. They've not slept alone since that second kiss really. But if they were caught out, I highly doubt Celia would allow for that to continue. It would be unfair to Gavin and Colt, they most definitely wouldn't be allowed to share a bed with Sierra and Faith under that room... no sir.

Oh gosh, let's hope Colt knows better than do make that mistake. Sierra too, for that matter. 😮 That would be Celia's worst nightmare, I'm thinking. Davin might take up drinking too, not being a fan of Sierra either. I think Sierra would have put out, but not at the creek... the creek is where loose moral girls had sex. Apparently. It would be a sad resolution for Colt. He wants out to spread his wings a bit and get away from the ranch. If he messed up with Sierra then the ranch becomes a very stabilizing force in his life, a place safe to help him build that life easier.

I mean... I could have just as easily said.. "yeah part of that was because Colt and Davin fooled around..." I mean it was never discussed, and won't be... as Davin doesn't seem keen on speaking about his whole crush/love for Colt as it is. But nah. If they hid it from me, they're sneaky little shits.

Fair point. Colt knowing Joel's secret hasn't caused him any unease, that shows confidence and self-awareness, as well as acceptance in who Joel is. All good things. And he's young and good looking, so that feeds that confidence some too Ouch situationship. I hope both guys felt the sting of that.

That's how I would describe Joel. Davin has shown loyalty, it is difficult to stay close to someone that you love, but you see that they may not value you the way you want. Easy to put distance there. He hasn't. But yeah, Joel if he doesn't slow down may lose something before he has it, with Davin.

Yeah, the poor guy knew he messed up the night for everyone else. Even after the later beers settled into his system. It was a long night for him full of unknowns, coming off a high middle of the day. Since it was the same Friday of his chanting... talk about every opportunity to be over stimulated. No wonder he stopped caring how many beers he downed. He downed them pretty close together too. But yeah, they were tender with one another in the tent.. with the massaging, head rubbing, and restraint to keep better judgement in line, something Joel struggled with all day really.

Yeah, it's those beers 4 - 6 that does a guy in, the poor thing. This is the third time that Joel has out maneuvered Jaxton. This last time far worse than the other two. And there's video proof of it all over the school... yikes. A smart person would take the loss and try to gain back what he lost some other way... surely.

Offered to take the very shirt off his back to dry him off and warm him up, even.

I love that comment in the writing. Joel putting Jaxton on equal standing really quick. A glistening wet, lean, body can cause a bit of distracting rift in our better judgements. Colt hasn't been as prickly of late either. I'd say Joel has been a lot more prickly than anyone in this story, to be honest. And Davin bless him. He moves on from Broody/moody Colt to Prickly and angry Joel. He deserves something for his trouble.

I don't think he sees himself as a fighter, thinking he's been running/hiding his whole life. He has been fighting though... I don't think he wants to be angry, and you're right it often goes hand in hand with depression or despair. Hopefully he'll start seeing Jaxton for what he is, someone that needs overlooked. That he doesn't need to worry about him or people like him - including his mother and older brother. That he does have a support system. Despite crashing through the entire party, Davin, Colt, and Gavin stood by him through all of it... in their own ways. Maybe he'll see it. If the Video reaches Celia or anyone outside of the more private underbelly of teenage social medias, then there will be consequences. Coaches do not like coaching kids like that, to be honest... and I do think Jaxton doesn't look as bad overall by comparison. I did like writing the creek scene. Maybe one day they'll have a peaceful and epic party that they can remember fondly.. at least for Joel and Davin it's been an 0 - 3 kind of year. But then again, if Davin and Joel had stayed at the one good party they wouldn't have had the privacy to try out kissing again.