Krista

Yeah, my early internet life was done mostly on dial-up. I mostly downloaded songs from virus-laden files that I had no business downloading. Then Myspace came along, yahoo. I found Nifty with a friend and that was eye-opening for us both. Now that seems such a scary place to inhabit after finding GA, to be fair. Not something thirteen year old me needed to be reading. I started writing more then. My friends encouraged me to write gay stories. Yahoo groups were a thing back then as well... I had a couple thousand in my writing group at one time. Started posting on GA exclusively when I realized I was still a teenager and this community felt safter to be part of, it's proven as such. Sex Education also wasn't a thing until my high school here. Even then it was physical safety, disease, abstinence is best teaching. They did cover anal, oral, and precautions for both as well though. Looking back that surprised us. But it was funny to watch a very masculine male teacher trying to dumb down douching... whilst showing us the working functions of them. I am also the product of high school romance. Living proof that the internet wasn't necessary in order to know how to do that sort of thing.

Roy's younger sister would be a very safe ask... Roy is the dangerous one. Also, Celia just wants him to ask someone, they don't have to agree to come. Just wants him to make the attempt. He very well could ask Avenly and Amberly, knowing they wouldn't be allowed to attend some strange dude's birthday party.. a safe well-lit chaperoned by parents afternoon or not. and more boy talk... that I love, but can't indulge in. I guess I am a little bit surprised that there are still theories floating around about other interests even after Davin and Joel kissed. That's pretty much what Trace has promised Joel. He'll protect and choose him.

I know he was, but I like to pile on him a little bit. I think his broad shoulders and 'perfect ass' can handle it. He still is in my top favorite characters of mine that I've written. I think he'll stay there forever. Ridley is up there... Cory. I love love love Henry though. Luke softened him from an ass to something more like a puppy.. a wild and not-so-obedience trained puppy. At least he was potty trained.

Other than swimming, for obvious reasons. Wet, nearly naked dudes... what is a "sexy" sport? Baseball in general and the jerseys/uniforms and all that is totally boring. Wrestling? Not the fake shit with roided up people.. the mat wrestling in singlets and no hiding behind that fabric.. ? Even I admit Basketball being rather tame... Would your Joel even play a sport? I tend to lean into sports a bit with my characters. It would be a breath of fresh air if I wrote one that was anti-sports completely, I'm thinking. I am also a firm believer in writing being supported and developed better with a background in reading and writing. I do a lot of reading, it is just my work as I'm prepping to post. I guess that counts a little. Although, I won't learn to break bad habits by outside reading, there's that. Davin is a cutie with butt dimples and an easy smile. More people would do well with Davin. Blond, moody, and brooding is overrated. Especially if you've read Twilight. *whistles* but I think she used "bronze" to describe Edward's hair color. Same thing though.. just a redder shade of blond.

Yes, I think it would be difficult to explain anything when you're still living in a complete "new normal" kind of life. The closest thing I would compare would be the first major holiday as a newly married couple. How that is supposed to look now that there's a lot more factors. Or, the first major holiday after the death of a parent/family member - on the sadder side of things. He's only just started to partially accept his 'new normal.' But still, he's told both Trace and Celia that's he's a bit frustrated. More so Trace. Celia's insistence of adding two guests to the party was her pressing her finger on the line that Joel has stated he is tired of being on the other side of anyway. Part of moving forward is putting yourself into uncomfortable situations and coming out of those safe, and knowing there's safety and support there again. Maybe they see him teetering on the idea to collapse in on himself and back into that.. "safe zone.." where he only lets people see him at a distance. They have made suggestions in the past and they've allowed him to dismiss the idea entirely. A little pressure may do him some good. Trace applied pressure early with making him face his parents. Celia is applying pressure in having him invite two people to his birthday party.

There have been a few authors that have ventured into the publishing world that are community members here. This is as far as I'll take my writing though. Welcome to GayAuthors as well, lots to enjoy here.

It would truly be interesting to see different perspectives of my characters that I didn't think about or consider. Joel would be a good character study, because I took him very hard in a certain direction. There's not a lot of wiggle room with how he thinks about his situation. So, there's a lot of scenarios and different aspects that could be written about him and how he has dealt with everything. Including, being hot for Colt, because Colt is just as moody as he is. Sighs... I do wish I had more time to sit down and actually read. Since I have nothing planned after Learned to Lie, I might find the time to be a 'reader' here for a bit and not solely an author, and a slight pain in the ass in the forums. Might be a welcome change or a complete disaster, we'll see. I don't know how you people do it, write, read, comment, full time job, etc. Gulldarnit? LOL. Totally new thing for me to witness, it did not disappoint.

I'm still on the fence really, to go from near suicide to sex after battling sexuality fears in under a month would have led him to the point of having sexual urges and being okay enough to act on them. So, to not have it 'be' that, I would have to cut the slow pacing by a lot. I don't know. A lot of people use sex to destress and to forget about such things as well. I don't see that as something good, but that is my opinion. And, since Joel is... I don't want to say flawed, but he's not growing linearly? Not past this. I could have, it would be a different story. But I don't know if I could write Davin the way he is though. To know someone is desperate and hurting and allowing yourself to be a willing partner in amplifying those doesn't look good. All my thoughts though. But still, that's where my head was when I thought about Joel and where he can be sexually. I might be a bit off-base with that to the point where the writing feels flawed in that way.

I would think if someone disturbed the party Trace is big enough to grab them up by their belt loops and their shirt collars and toss them headfirst into the dirt and tell them to hit the road. But yeah, Joel doesn't know that many people at Fletcher. Roy does seem like he's at least a good enough brother to his little sister to be an option and it is a distant and known face... but that presents a whole other issue with Joel.

They do. Horses can make really good physical, emotional, and social therapy animals. The little minis that go around in hospitals and such. I've read about the PTSD therapies with animals for research. A great bond with a horse can last 30 years.. and they do remember you after an absence. I like adding animals to my story. The Best Year didn't have them, I highly doubted Jackson could take care of a goldfish, let alone a dog. Bless him. Luke would have totally had a dog though 100%. It was a miss for him not to have one in his life, especially with how I depicted him in the writing and his overall living situation. But then again... if Luke had a dog to vent to and not have to put up with snark and back talk... would he have even bonded with Jackson?

Now I'm scared. I might have over motivated you to do it. Maybe write it in third, we both know someone who already made the attempt.

My family had Tennessee Walkers, rather common for our general area. Aside from Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses. And, a few ponies for the riding lessons of smaller children who didn't need to be falling off full grown horses. But, we've not been "horse people.." for years though. I don't know if I'd even be brave enough to get back on one now.

I do look forward to the rewrite/Alternative Universe. May Colt be successful in glistening to perfection and wooing Joel thoroughly, emphasis on thoroughly. And you are correct I do not like Chicago style pizza because of the sauce and grease and ick. Did you just uno-reverse mother meddling with me? 😮 How DARE!

He's built up a little bit of a foundation with Fletcher County. Not enough that he sees much past the Connleys and the island they seem to have created for him. and yes, no amount of telling him he's loved, safe, and treating him with kindness is going to convince him if he can't get over his own guilt, shame, and fear. He's had the support of Trace and Celia since that first night. He's been promised support and safety, and he's allowed himself to show more to them. Still clutching rather hard on the shame, fear, and being firm in survivor mode though.

Excuse you sir, disliking pizza isn't a red flag. I don't like a lot of the chain stuff and cheap box frozen stuff at all. Homemade from scratch pizzas though.. my goodness. I do like two pizza chains. I've also found that small independent establishments just make better pizzas. I am very picky with pizza before I can sit down and like it. I said what I said. --- I'm the same way with chocolate too, by the way. Let the boy be sentimental about his gloves. Not everything has to be about Colt's balls, gosh. I personally didn't see that as her meddling. They have talked about growth and progress and not being afraid anymore. Joel has kind of been a bit back and forth on making any attempt at doing it. So, a small ask of inviting two friends to his birthday party, in the hopes of Joel growing past some of this might be what he needs. Especially if he's not giving much of an indication of doing that on his own. I mean, technically he's given all of the weight of his and Cody's entire party on the shoulders of Celia, Trace, and Lacey. He gave her the freedom of inviting friends and helping with the planning. It might have been a nice gesture for him with Lacey, but that's not him taking any responsibility. Celia asking him to carry some of the load, might be something that's a little late in coming. and, are we back on Jolt because I guaranteed a glistening, saggy-wet jeans Colt? It is a promise I plan on delivering. And people say I'm difficult, but I'm out here dropping gifts like Santa effing Claus.

Seems to be a lot of that going around these days. Trending as a mood, talk of secret prompt events, characters in this story, you all.

Yeah, so far Joel has really froze them all out on that idea. I don't think it would be wise for the coach to then push that idea, but allow Joel the time and opportunities to come back on his own. We'll see if Joel has that in him or not. We only got to see hints of his former Coach in a previous chapter. He seemed to set aside Joel's stat value rather quickly and shift right into protective mode. So, sadly he does point towards someone that Joel could feel a significant loss with when more of this hits him. I'm not certain everything has. The biggest issue with living behind a wall you've built is that you sometimes don't allow yourself to think and feel things that you need to. There's a looming example in my brain that he's not considered. He mentioned it in passing, but it was to explain a happier memory. But I don't think he felt the impact. And yeah, Joel would completely shut them all down more if he thought they only wanted him for his stats. Probably why he bristles at Davin and Gavin. Gavin's jokes are all about what those stats could look like. And Coach Finn at Fletcher did off-hand do the same thing by approaching Joel like a completely known entity and handing him special treatment - in that he didn't have to tryout he was flat offered a position without a thought of earning one.

It would be significant if they were to invite either of the Coaches, his past one, and if he allows it - his future one to his party. Especially after asking his permission to invite Celia's mother to come. Neither of them seem like parents that would spring a significant blindside on him. They know they're dealing with someone that doesn't react well to those types of things.

I don't think Celia is mischievous, not her. 😮 She's the most angelic of that whole crew. But, Joel doesn't know any better when it comes to Lacey and Lacey's ambitions. It is a lesson the boy needs to learn, I'm thinking. She may remind him of Cody, but she is a different beast.

They are. I had a mare, they can be demons during their cycles... Geldings are the way to go. You get a calmer headed animal without raging hormones. lol. And they are beautiful.

When you put it that way you make the whole ordeal sound tedious and annoying. Lets hope the guys have more in them than all that.

Yeah, this may be something that luckily flies under the radar of everyone involved and they got away with it... or it blows up in their faces. A few chapters back, I think it was the abandoned center party, Joel did almost reach for Davin first, but they got interrupted. Davin wasn't taking any chances this go, I'm thinking.. and plotted to ensure he played his cards right... even giving up on the baseball talk for now. The guy was motivated. Joel does need more friends than just the twins and possibly Colt.

He was quite brazen and honest, wasn't he? Pretty much told his brother where he was going to be. Probably not a big thing... if he wasn't hopping from one bed-sharing situation, to a... more strange one. A twin he's 100% comfortable with being one option... and just a guy they suddenly know being the other. Yikes, maybe Faith can be quite the distraction and Gavin a bit single minded not to realize. I think he's left Gavin's bed before this too though. Maybe Gavin really is difficult to sleep with and it is something they both know about one another. Otherwise, yeah... very brazen. The birthday party. I'm nervous about that chapter. Thinking seems to be what gets Joel into trouble and in his own way. Not thinking seems to be how Davin tends to operate about some things. Not saying Joel wouldn't have forgotten about necessary steps after, or planned up to it. Okay, lets also be real.. if it was Joel, it likely probably wouldn't have been in the planning to begin with. I am the author of his story, I think I can throw him under that bus...

His back and forth thinking and this is an example of that. But the last two thoughts had to hit him pretty hard. Knowing where he stands might be the best place to start walking forward again. And the more I read and write this story, the more I realize just how much I swear in the writing. lol. I do not swear in real life and I never say the... "upper tier ones.." (I don't even want to say them in the reply to this comment). They fly right to the page in my writing though, even outside of dialog. Which is fine, he is a teenage/young adult narrator and they like to swear and often do. But seeing that little word tucked into a lot of heavy rapid fire thoughts made it stand out to me for some reason. Not a distraction, but I noticed it. And I know I rambled off topic too. And yes, he has all the freedom in the world to play. A coach and team waiting for him seemingly ready to give him that opportunity. Hell, he has another team and coach 'three counties away' (I know that could become a drinking game in the writing too, by the way), that would take him back too. So. In his own way...