Krista

sigh... two attempts to post and the not posting bug kept biting me... Let's hope the boy, early in his growing pains doesn't backslide on us. It would be like Joel to do that. I do wonder who you all think will be the first one to figure them out...

Yeah, he didn't weigh the decision before he made it this time. He asked a few questions, if Wheeler wasn't a freshman I don't know that he would have joined. Giving up his number was strike one, playing for them at all is strike two for now. Not playing the position he loves and thinks he's best at... would've been strike three and game over. Even I have to admit as the author that I needed the position to be open for me to write him agreeing to play. If I went the route of him having to compete for short-stop, I would have him foregoing his senior year with baseball. Who is to say I'm still not on the fence about that... we're known to be tricky.. authors. But at least for now, that was my thought process for this chapter and the short-term direction forward.

Absolutely no clue it seems. Although, if he did know about Davin he thought Davin didn't know about Joel. So, even if he did think he outed Joel to Davin he still was ashamed with himself for outing him. --- I tried to be intentionally convoluted it was worse, but I got lost so I edited it down a bit. It's safe to assume that Colt doesn't know about Davin though. It may come down to both of them seemingly having the intentions they did with Lorianne, even though Davin was pretty much there because of Colt. If Colt figures that out, it might be a bit much for him to come to terms with... maybe. Naked and plotting as they were.

Yeah, Colt talking. Who knew him doing so would be scary? It has been for Joel the times he has. It was Colt talking that "outed" Joel here. It was also Colt talking that led to him knowing Joel was gay in the first place by picking at him. Colt talking also got him on the creek bank where he had to bust his knuckles on Jonny's head... (although it was Celia who made him talk that time) Maybe Colt needs to shut his mouth.

He agreed, yes. I don't think it was lightly, but he wanted the decision made he was growing frustrated with his brain, Davin, and feeling pulled in different directions... Still yet to be seen if he comes to like that decision or not. If there is some hidden fallout with him, or backtracking... The joke about Braden is something I considered editing out. I thought it would land as an innocent joke, but the weight of the words might be a bit... weighty. Braden is eye candy, and Joel did play "teacher's pet" this chapter, saving the unprepared Braden. Being the only one out of 15 students to do the homework making it slightly worse for him. No one wants to be the 'only' one to do that sort of thing, relaxed class or not. Joel is out to improve his GPA in hopes of getting more help with college, so he's going to do his homework this year that's been one of his rare decisions he's never waffled back and forth on. Zero, not unique... but teenagers. Can we really expect true uniqueness from them? I mean... when it isn't borderline life threatening or dumb, they seem to be pretty creative with that. The number was more for him and his mindset than anything. So no Pie symbol this time, although I do have to admit when @Mattyboy brought it up I was tempted.

That .gif is both funny and disturbing, good work finding that treasure... lol. Colt definitely included Joel in the table talk. It's also been a bit of a rare sight for him to actually be sitting down to eat with them. He's been running off with Sierra and skipping out on chores. He's felt the tension in his own family with his own decision he's yet to tell them about. So, the dude talks today... I guess he's being a bit symbolic with that number. Starting from nothing like he is. Gavin was missing. Girls, a quickly eaten supper, and horse poop took him completely out of the discussions. Gavin's energy is a safe energy for Joel, I think he likes when Gavin is around to provide a simpler dynamic to be around.

Yeah, the circle of people who know didn't really expand to include Davin, really... but to everyone involved it did. Now the bed sharing and such might be looked at a bit differently. Celia already said that she hoped it didn't make things weird between them, so it may be safe to say that she's already thinking along those lines. Davin's little 'act' earned him some brownie points. So, he might get some extra brownies after supper or something, just for him. The talk wasn't painful, as in he didn't bolt from the field with a hard no. If he did, I doubted he'd come back for a third time, and if I was the coach I wouldn't force or suggest a third time either. The decision I think surprised all three of them, to a point. Davin and the Coach especially. The rush of nerves that struck him after he committed to playing... maybe it won't be a decision he comes to realize he never wanted to make.

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked the chapter.

You're welcome. I was thinking about sticking to my schedule even after Wildthing surprised me with the edits and saying he was done with the chapter.

Davin was legitimately surprised that Colt would've blatantly made that little joke. But yeah, he kept up the bit nicely I thought. And true, in murder cases that's a motive for a lot of those. At least all involved all secretly or outright knew to begin with this time. Maybe a more quiet and brooding Colt is safer to be around than a relaxed and talking one. Stress is bad for digestion, you're right to be concerned. lol. The Birthday party was going to happen next chapter. 😮 But now there's three chapters coming up ahead of it. Probably will end up with five between/before the birthday party chapter. I'm completely scared about the three maybe five 'bonus' chapters too. A lot goes on in them that wasn't in the writing.

You're welcome. @wildone surprised me with getting this chapter done. He told me yesterday or I wouldn't have noticed. I've been writing the "bonus chapters." He gave me permission to post this as a small gift, and I honestly don't know what my weekend is going to look like. I thought about not posting, but you know me, if I see a completed and edited chapter to post... I post. At least this time it wasn't followed up with a tiny lecture from an angry Canadian. Joel may have been riding a little high for his chant that scared the hell out of him, and then feeling a bit relieved that he wasn't in trouble. Davin has been slowly working on him. I don't want to credit his "hand skills" the other night... but you know, could be a factor who knows? He 'made' the decision, we're still yet to see if he will like that decision or not.

I thought we would end up in Mrs. Reynart’s office, but she found an unused classroom. It was small and close to the front foyer. It didn’t have a room number above the door, and she had to put all her weight onto the door before it opened. Following her inside, she turned on the lights, and I watched all of them slowly build to their full strength. “Take a seat boys,” she ordered and I saw a neat row of desks. The room was clean and well maintained. The board wasn’t a marker board, but a s

We're not heading into Friday yet, so no promises. I guess all may be forgiven if I tell everyone that I'm currently writing a third "bonus" chapter that wasn't in the original writing? Maybe? Even if I do miss this week due to stress and holidays? So far I've added just over 20k of "new" writing to the already bloated word count story...

And kick Warhawk ass, I guess.

Yeah, he went more than a bit dramatic about it. Frustration can be a bit of a motivator as well.

Part of that is likely why Celia pressed him to invite two people that weren't the family and twins he's been around since his arrival. From what we know, Joel does isolate himself to a lot of people and keeps 'safe' people around him. He's said he's kept a comfortable distance between him and his Tempton teammates as well and he's known some of those players since little league, the ones that came up in the school system with him anyway. So it is a habit he's had for a really long time. The only person that's going to talk sense into Joel, might be Joel at this point. Different people have put thoughts into his head and some of them have got him thinking about things.

He does have a bit of an abrasive streak in him. Davin and his banter can come across as mean to one another as well. They have this odd teenage banter, name calling thing going on, but also some tenderness in a more private setting. Pressuring Roy in the moment wasn't the smoothest of moves either, but Roy rose to the occasion. He's probably kicking himself for dragging him into it. But, I don't think he'll be apologetic for standing up for himself with Jaxton aside from that. He isn't easy to like all the time. That's fine, it is very human for people not to be.

Goodness this was entertaining. Also, the effort to find all the fitting ogre .gifs to go along with calling out the football team.

At this point he may cause poor Roy to develop a complex... he's been put through it. Maybe he'll calm down. We'll see how Reynart felt about his stunt and that may or may not sober him up a bit.

At least his plans have shifted from: I gotta get out of here, I owe 'these people' too much. To.. "We'll see what happens, I kind of like it here..." Growth in baby steps.

He probably does wish he knew how he stands with people back in Tempton, despite him saying the opposite a lot. His refusal to reach out still being hindered mostly by his fears. Him doing this, makes think that he still values the opinions Tempton would have about him, and not Fletcher. That might need to change going forward...

Lol. No. I will just go on about my lady-like ways and not say what popped into my head that would question that completely.

I don't think that's happened at one of our family functions for at least.... a tentative decade.